Pumping
stations to reduce flooding in Butuan completed
BUTUAN
CITY, Nov. 21 - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 13,
through the Regional Project Management Office (RPMO), has completed the
construction of the Lower Agusan Development Project (LADP) Flood Control
Component (FCC) Stage I, Phase I and II, Urban Drainage System Construction of
Relief Pumping Station at Collector Drain (CD) 1 and 2.
The
construction of the relief pumping stations is designed to discharge a combined
(CD 1 & 2) 70 cubic meter per minute of flood water impounded along the
commercial districts of Butuan City and released into the Agusan River in the
event that level of water rises due to continuous rain and other weather
disturbances, usually occurring in the last and first months of the year,
thereby reducing occurrence of flooding.
For
decades, flooding has been a looming danger in the highly urbanized city of
Butuan that is geographically situated below sea level where agriculture,
property and even lives are at constant risk of being under water or swept away
gravely in the recent years due to the effects of climate change.
Construction
of CD 1 and 2 began on June 29, 2017 and was completed on August 22, 2018 with
a total cost of P96,499,611.33.
These
pumping stations are located in the West Bank of the Agusan River – where CD 1
is upstream at Brgy. Silongan and CD 2 is 300 meters away, downstream at Brgy.
Urduja.
DPWH
conducted a trial run on October 26, 2018, and although CD 1 is working well,
the flood wall along CD 2 needs to be dug up/opened to provide easier access
for the flood water to enter the inlet to sump pit.
Once
the final inspection and certificate of completion are done, these projects
will be turned over to the City Government of Butuan for operation and
maintenance with the supervision under DPWH.
When
history had it on record about Butuan’s harrowing flooding experience, the DPWH
had it in priority as a solution and to lessen its devastating effects by
conceptualizing and implementing flood mitigation projects around this
low-lying city. (DPWH-13/PIA-Caraga)
