PUBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar on Thursday, September 23, 2021 led the inauguration ceremony of Cavite’s two floodwater reservoir projects in Barangay Buhay na Tubig, Imus City.
Villar was joined by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain, Cavite Governor Juanito Victor C. Remulla, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa, Cavite 2nd District Representative Strike Revilla and Cavite 3rd District Representative Alex L. Advincula.
The event was also attended by DPWH UPMO Flood Control Management Cluster (FCMC) Project Director Ramon A. Ariola III, UPMO Project Directors Benjamin A. Bautista and Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes and Project Manager Aurelio C. Mendoza.
Villar said that the Imus and Bacoor retarding basins implemented by DPWH UPMO-FCMC are expected to help manage or mitigate the challenges of rainy season for Imus and Bacoor that are highly susceptible to rain-induced flash flooding.
The project will help address flooding woes in low-lying areas affected by the confluence of Imus River and Bacoor River, Villar added.
According to Sadain, the design of the two retarding basins was based on a comprehensive flood management master plan prepared by Jica.
These constructed retarding basins will temporarily store most, if not all, of the rainwater run-off during very high rainfall to reduce the peak volume of flood flow and later release at regulated rate, Sadain said.
The reservoirs that will also reduce the floodwater going downstream were built under financing of Jica’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).
When water level increases during flooding, the floodwater overflows into the retarding basins and will be discharge once the water level in Imus and Bacoor River subsides or at normal rate.
The Imus retarding basin at Barangay Anabu has a water detention area of about 35 hectares with 2-meters-by-2-meters one barrel drainage sluice and 84 meters overflow dike.
On the other hand, the Bacoor retarding basin located in Barangay Buhay na Tubig has two basin connected by a 2.7-meters-by-2.7-meters one barrel sluiceway for a total pond area of nine hectares with overflow dike of 42 meters and 1-meter-by-1-meter one barrel drainage sluice.