BY CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — While residents in Butuan City express relief over the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently completed flood control project, concerns over its long-term effectiveness remain.
Marlyn Flores, a resident of Barangay Villa Kananga, highlighted the significant impact of the newly constructed P192-million urban drainage system in reducing flooding in her area. The flood control infrastructure, built by DPWH, has helped alleviate the severe flooding that previously affected the community.
Her reaction was posted in a news article by Philippine Information Agency-Caraga Region in their social media post on August 19.
However, questions loom about the project’s ability to fully address the city’s perennial flooding issues.
The project, which began in May 2024, extends from Barangay Mandacpan through Barangay Villa Kananga to Barangay Bonbon.
This project complements the P142 million flood control project towards the downstream area of the Taligaman-Antongalon-Mahay Creek in Butuan City which was completed in May 2022.
The 660.66 lineal meter reinforced concrete revetment now contains the water from the creek, guiding its way under the bridge, and away from the road and surrounding rice paddies of Barangays Taligaman, Antongalon, Mahay, Lemon, Tagabaca, and Basag.
While it is lauded as a much-needed solution, some residents remain skeptical about its ability to provide lasting protection.
The project aims to control floodwaters by rerouting them from flood-prone areas, but the reality of Butuan City’s geography—a delta prone to river overflow during heavy rainfall—may demand more than just drainage systems and floodwalls.
Butuan residents raised concerns over sustainability of flood control projects
Flores recalled living through extreme flooding in the past, noting, “In our eight years of living in this barangay, we experienced severe flooding that forced us to evacuate and leave our homes. We experienced flooding during Super Typhoon Odette in 2021 and Paeng in 2023, with floodwaters reaching up to our waist.”
Her sentiment about the new project bringing relief is shared by many, but it’s clear that the solutions in place may only address part of the problem.
Arcadio B. Vergara, another resident, voiced his gratitude, in the PIA report saying, “I am thankful to the government. The situation now has improved because of the flood control project.”
However, Vergara’s acknowledgment of the improvements highlights a deeper issue—previous flooding had been a common problem for decades, especially because the area’s river is shallow and prone to overflow.
This raises doubts about the sustainability of the current flood mitigation measures.
While the project has made strides, Butuan City’s vulnerability to flooding continues to be a major concern.
The city’s geography, sitting in a delta area, has long made it susceptible to flood risks, and despite recent improvements, the DPWH’s flood control measures might not be enough to shield the city from future natural disasters.
Former city councilor Engr. Sergio Pascual criticized the newly completed P192-million drainage project, calling it “just a little finger” compared to the much larger, still unresolved flood issues that have plagued the city for over two decades.
He argued that previous flood control projects failed to address the root cause of the flooding due to flawed engineering designs that focused primarily on canal revetments, which could not manage the swelling floodwaters during heavy rains.
Pascual recalled his efforts to push for the installation of check valves and pumping stations near the Agusan River, specifically near the Magsaysay Bridge, located just three kilometers from the city proper. The goal was to prevent floodwaters from flowing back into the city during high tide. However, his legislative proposal was ignored.
He also expressed skepticism about the practicality of placing similar facilities in Barangay Lumbocan or near the Masau Seashore, noting that these locations are about seven kilometers from the city and would not effectively address the problem.
While Pascual acknowledged the recent drainage project, he questioned whether it would be sufficient to meet the challenges posed by urbanization, population growth, and climate change.
He emphasized that DPWH’s efforts are just one part of the solution and raised concerns about whether further investments are necessary to make the city truly flood-resilient in the long term.
The Lower Agusan Development Project – Flood Control Component (LADP-FCC), initiated in 1988, served as a significant part of Butuan City’s flood mitigation strategy. The project, costing P5.557 billion, has protected approximately 294.72 km² of land and benefited about 66% of the city’s population.
This was contained in the 154-page “Final Technical Report on the Impact Assessment of LADP-FCC” by the National Economic Development Authority in 2019.
However, the report said the issues with flooding seem far from resolved. The gaps in flood control structures, such as incomplete levee extensions and issues with drainage systems, still allow water to flow back into protected areas.
Moreover, although the flood control infrastructure has reduced some flood risks, low-lying areas in Butuan City continue to suffer from inadequate drainage systems.
These areas are still vulnerable to significant flooding, especially during peak rainfall or typhoon seasons. The urban drainage system, which was designed to manage rainwater, has failed to meet expectations in some areas, and gaps in the project continue to contribute to localized flooding.
The failure to properly maintain and extend flood control structures also raises alarms.
Reports indicate that floodgates were stolen, causing significant disruptions in the drainage system. Without effective floodgate protection, the city remains exposed to flooding during heavy rains.
Additionally, portions of the flood control structures still lack the necessary capacity to handle the volume of water expected during extreme weather events.
Ultimately, while the LADP-FCC project has achieved some of its intended goals, Butuan City still faces the challenge of persistent flooding.
Despite the substantial financial investments and efforts by DPWH, the city’s vulnerability to floods remains a pressing issue.
For residents, the peace of mind brought by the project may be short-lived unless further measures, maintenance, and improvements are prioritized.
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