Mangaldan: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a P9.5-million flood control structure designed to protect vulnerable communities and farmlands in Barangay Talospatang in this town.
According to Philippines News Agency, DPWH Ilocos Region information officer Esperanza Tinaza stated that the new flood mitigation project aims to strengthen the area’s flood resistance while safeguarding livelihoods. Tinaza explained that prior to the project’s implementation, the area experienced frequent soil erosion, particularly during the wet season. The rising water levels in the Marusay River often overflowed, damaging the soil structure and posing dangers to property, infrastructure, and agricultural output.
The project includes 77.60 lineal meters of slope protection, featuring Type-Z steel sheet piles, structural concrete works, a revetment wall, and a parapet wall at the top berm. Tinaza highlighted that the completion of this infrastructure will enhance the soil stability along the riverbanks, offering crucial stability to the area. The combination of concrete revetments and sheet pile foundations is expected to minimize erosion and protect the flood control embankments from scouring.
The flood control initiative is anticipated to significantly benefit local farmers by protecting crops and ensuring more consistent agricultural yields, even during extreme weather events. Funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2025, the project commenced on February 12, 2025, and was successfully completed on March 13.
