Press Release

The P778-million Tagoloan River Basin subproject in Misamis Oriental was inaugurated this week as part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) cooperation in the Philippines to boost the country's disaster resiliency under the Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River (FRIMP-CTI).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implemented the project that consists of flood protection and dike revetment structures and drainage improvement, as well as non-structural measures such as flood risk maps and capacity building on operations and maintenance and disaster awareness. A study shows that the project may reduce the flood inundation area by 153 hectares or 1.53 square kilometers.

"We have been working with the Philippines since the 1970s to build its capacity on disaster resiliency. As an equal partner towards development, we make sure that JICA also shares Japan's experience and knowhow in design, planning, and execution to ensure sustainability," said JICA Philippines Chief Representative Yoshio Wada. Specifically, the Tagoloan flood control subproject has involved local governments and communities in operating and maintaining the flood structures and were part of flood mapping exercises and flood and evacuation drills.

FRIMP-CTI aims to minimize flood risk in three river systems (Lower Cagayan, Tagoloan, and Imus) and also promote socioeconomic development in the area. In the Philippines, natural disasters have taken its toll not only in the people's welfare but also in the economy. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that total economic loss from meteorological disasters including storms and floods amounted to P96 billion from 2006 to 2015. For example, tropical storm Ondoy in 2009 that caused inundation in affected areas resulted in losses of about P10 billion.

JICA has implemented flood control projects covering the Philippines' major river basins since the ‘70s, including Agno, Pasig-Laguna de Bay, Pampanga, Cagayan, Bicol, and Panay river basins.