The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen the country’s ability to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on its road network.
The partnership between DPWH and JICA on the ongoing Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) for road disaster prevention and other countermeasures on mountainous roads is poised to yield tangible outcomes in developing innovative solutions suited to the unique challenges posed by mountainous terrain in the Philippines, particularly in the pilot regions of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Visayas and Davao Region.
Emil Sadain, DPWH senior undersecretary, said a review of overall progress on key activities was conducted during the recent 4th DPWH-JICA JCC Meeting on the ongoing TCP for road disaster prevention.
The TCP has four key components, namely, countermeasure works, emergency response, hazard maps and road disaster information management with the following deliverable manuals: survey/analysis/monitoring manual and permanent countermeasure manual; slope disaster emergency response manual; hazard evaluation manual; and road disaster information system and manual.
Some of the activities are the topographic and geologic survey at pilot sites; seminar on survey, analysis, design and supervision; geohazard mapping; and capacity-building initiatives and knowledge transfer activities in Japan to effectively manage and respond to road disasters in mountainous areas.
“By combining Japanese best practices with the actual local condition, the project aims to strengthen the Philippines’ ability to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on its road networks, ensuring safer and more resilient infrastructure across the country under the ‘Bagong Pilipinas,’” added Sadain.
With support from the JICA expert team, the project underscores Japan’s commitment to supporting the Philippines in enhancing its infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness efforts, DPWH said.
In a related development, DPWH has completed the flood control structure at low-lying communities along the Amnay River in Barangay Pagasa, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
“The completed flood control structure now brings relief and a sense of security to residents of Barangay Pagasa who are mostly affected by storm surges and heavy flooding in the Amnay River due to strong typhoons,” said Gerald Pacanan, DPWH Regional Office IV-B director.
The construction of the P45.07 million flood control project funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2023 was implemented by DPWH Mindoro Occidental district engineering office. – Myla Iglesias
