The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is continuing its commitment to mitigate flooding in different parts of the country by safeguarding communities in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental with a recently completed and another underway flood control structure.
Secretary Mark A. Villar said that construction of two (2) flood control structures along the Ilog-Hilabangan River was implemented by the DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office (DEO) with funding sourced from the 2020 and 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA)
Secretary Mark A. Villar, citing reports from DPWH Region 6 Director Lea N. Delfinado and Negros Occidental 3rd DEO District Engineer Rodney A. Gustilo, said that a 336.7-lineal meter revetment wall along the downstream of Ilog-Hilabangan River was completed in the amount of P65.71-million.
The project is an addition to the previously constructed revetment wall in the area.
With its completion last April 2021, the new revetment wall further ensured the protection of residents in Barangays 6, 7, 8, 9, and Talubangi in Kabankalan City.
Another revetment wall measuring 498.5 lineal meters is currently in the works and will also be stretching the river bank of Ilog-Hilabangan River from Brgy. 6 leading towards Brgy. Talubangi.
These revetment structures are important for the communities near the Ilog-Hilabangan River as it serves as the catch basin of waters coming from the mountain ranges of Candoni and from some portion of Negros Oriental.
Being the catch basin located in the urban area of the city, the entire city proper of Kabankalan is considered as a flood prone area that has been compromise during the sudden occurrence of heavy rains and tropical storms.
Through the flood control structures “river banks will not be eroded and water overflow will be prevented, thus the lives and properties of approximately 2,630 households of the five (5) barangays in Kabankalan City situated near the river will be protected.