ILOILO — Flood control and river protection projects in Miag-ao town have dramatically reduced flooding risks and prevented the mass evacuations that once displaced thousands of residents in some of the municipality’s most vulnerable communities, local officials said as the rainy season begins.
The infrastructure investments are already delivering tangible results, particularly in flood-prone coastal and low-lying villages that have long suffered from severe flooding during heavy rains, typhoons, storm surges, and high tides.
The most striking example, according to Mayor Richard Garin at the sidelines of the recent Inter-Agency Territorial Defense Operations Exercise in Miag-ao, Barangay Baybay Norte, a coastal community historically among the hardest-hit areas during calamities because of its location at the convergence of the Tumagbok River and the sea.
“Our farmers have long wanted the rainy season. Regarding how it will affect the community, in areas that have been identified as flood-prone, we already have warning systems in place and several protective structures have been constructed, including river control and flood control projects,” Garin said.
“Not all areas have been fully covered yet, but major portions of the municipality now have safety structures that help protect residents and agricultural lands,” he added.
Garin noted that Baybay Norte had consistently recorded among the highest numbers of evacuees during severe weather events because it is exposed to both overflowing river waters and storm surges.
“This barangay is situated where the river meets the sea. When river water levels rise, water enters the community. During a storm surge, seawater also pushes inland. When those two conditions occur at the same time — high tide and overflowing river water — the chances of flooding become very high,” he explained.
Before the flood mitigation projects were completed, thousands of residents from the barangay were often forced to leave their homes whenever powerful weather disturbances struck the municipality.
However, Garin said the situation has significantly improved following the construction of flood control infrastructure in the area.
“Since we constructed the flood control project, that situation has not happened again. We had zero evacuees. That shows the project is working and providing the protection it was designed to deliver,” he said.
Miag-ao remains one of Iloilo’s municipalities most vulnerable to rain-induced flooding and landslides due to its extensive river systems, mountainous terrain, and coastal communities exposed to storm surges.
To address these threats, the Department of Public Works and Highways, in partnership with the municipal government, has implemented several flood mitigation projects, including drainage upgrades along the Iloilo-Antique National Road, river control structures in Barangay Ubos Ilaya, and flood control facilities along the Tumagbok River.
Shoreline protection projects have also been completed in Baybay Norte, Baybay Sur, Kirayan Sur, and Guibongan to reduce the impact of storm surges, coastal erosion, and tidal flooding, while localized flood mitigation measures have been introduced in Barangay Cagbang.
Despite the improvements, local officials acknowledged that some communities, particularly Baybay Norte and Barangay Sapa, remain vulnerable to extreme weather events and tidal flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
The municipal government continues to pursue additional drainage and river control projects while conducting disaster preparedness activities in vulnerable areas.
“With climate-related disasters becoming more frequent, we must continue investing in projects that protect our people. These flood control structures are not only protecting homes and communities, but also helping secure the livelihood of our farmers and fisherfolk,” Garin said./PN
