The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has inaugurated a component of the P8.55-billion Flood Risk Management Project for the Cagayan de Oro River (FRIMP CDOR) in Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao.
DPWH, together with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the local government leaders of Cagayan de Oro City spearheaded the ceremony for the completion of the P3.14-billion FRIMP CDOR Contract Package 2-Consolacion.
This is composed of the floodwall structure with river boulevard and static sand compaction piles and reinforced concrete pipe culverts with flap gates that will strengthen the resilience of communities along the Cagayan de Oro River.
Manuel Bonoan, DPWH secretary, said the FRIMP CDOR is also a step to the realization of one of the DPWH’s target outputs to build disaster-resilient structures in calamity-prone areas.
The project is divided into three contract packages with implemented structural and non-structural measures for flood risk management designed to withstand flood damage with intensities similar to that caused by the devastating Tropical Storm “Sendong” in 2011.
Contract Package 2 was undertaken by Toyo Construction Co. Ltd., under the construction supervision and monitoring of UPMO FCMC.
DPWH said the full completion of the remaining Contract Package 3 covering Kauswagan-Carmen-Balulang-Nazareth-Macasandig is slated for later this year.
The FRIMP CDOR covers the 12-kilometer stretch downstream portion from the river mouth up to the Pelaez Bridge, and features innovative technology and design approach based on a 50-year flood return period.
DPWH conducted the master plan and feasibility study in the Cagayan de Oro River Basin in collaboration with JICA in 2011.
In December of the same year, Tropical Storm Sendong struck the Northern Mindanao area, resulting in more than one thousand casualties in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan alone, and unprecedented damage to properties.
Thus, in March 2012, DPWH, with the technical assistance of JICA, conducted the preparatory survey for the Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River. The survey was the basis for the structural measures to strengthen the disaster resilience of communities around the Cagayan de Oro River basin.
Other than flood mitigation, FRIMP CDOR has road and bridge components that will improve mobility in the highly urbanized city of Cagayan de Oro.
