Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed a flood control project in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
The P73.43 million, 520-lineal meter infrastructure is located in barangay San Anton that was built along the Pampanga River.
DPWH Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineer Elpidio Trinidad said the project is expected to increase the river’s discharge capacity which in turn will help reduce and prevent severe inland flooding which is usually caused by localized torrential rain.
“We are pleased to provide the residents of San Anton with this project that will help protect nearby flood-prone areas from the overflowing river,” Trinidad added.
San Anton resident Alejandro De Leon shared that during heavy rains, the river tends to overflow and in very bad weather, riverine floods can be chest-deep that passers-by choose to take boats just to cross the river.
Moreover, he noted that the newly built facility has helped reduce these instances and has actually improved their situation during heavy rains.
“Malaki po ang ginanda (ng sitwasyon namin). ‘Tsaka buhat noon, hindi pa bumabaha, dahil dati umulan lang po lumalaki ang tubig, umaahon. Ngayon po hindi na po umaahon (yung tubig sa ilog). Noong mga nakaraan na bagyo na iyan (hindi na nagkakaroon ng pagbaha) mula po noong ginawa iyan,” he added.
Funding was sourced from the 2022 General Appropriations Act. (CLJD-PIA 3)