Interagency set anti-flood alternatives in Sarangani

Finding solution to Malandag floods – Former Malungon ABC chair-turned president of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Captains in the province Delia Figueroa-Constantino present possible anti-flood alternatives to participants of the recently held interagency meeting in Malandag Gymnasium, Malungon, Sarangani Province. Also in photo are (L-R) Malungon town Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino, Municipal Engr. Rodrigo Palec, DPWH district Engr. Elpidio A. Birog, ABC provincial president Constantino, Provincial Engr. Jerry Belbider, Acting GSC-NIA chief Engr. Gina L. Lozano, NIA Engr. Michael Mama and president of the Malandag Irrigators Association, David Acosta. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

Interagency meeting – Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino lead an interagency meeting with barangay, local, provincial and nat’l government personnel for the immediate implementation of possible anti-flood solutions following torrential rains that once again, submerged Brgy. Malandag in Malungon, Sarangani Province. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

Flood rescue operation, evacuations – Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino lead rescuers evacuate the heavily affected locals in the midst of a recent flashflood that hit Brgy. Malandag in Malungon, Sarangani Province. (Photo by Keen Pacheco/ MDRRMO).

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MALUNGON, Sarangani Province – The local government here has called for an immediate interagency meeting in Brgy. Malandag in a bid to reinforce its flood management and control system against widespread flooding that are caused by torrential rains and the overflowing of nearby river valleys.

Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino said the urgent meeting at Malandag Gymnasium was participated by tasked personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways; both the Provincial and Municipal Engineering Offices; Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO); BDRRMO of Malandag and the Barangay Communal Irrigators Association (BCIA) together with its counterpart from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) of the nearby city of General Santos. 

“It is a must to implement effectual solution against these damages which affected our municipality’s hard-earned economic gains in the past couple of years,” Constantino, in a letter request forwarded to the honorable governor, Gov. Steve C. Solon, said. 

In a report, MDRRMO designate Ahasuerus Keen A. Pacheco said the recent calamity has affected more or less 449 house holds. He said this was due to the overflowing of floodwaters from nearby rivers, and the incessant gush of rain waters coming from the high grounds. “These played a major rule in submerging this part of town in almost four separate occasions,” Pacheco added. 

Constantino said upon the onset of rainy reason, Malungon town have faced several calamitous events wherein aside from the reported minimal damages in other barangays, Malandag had experienced four (4) flooding incidents on July 20; July 27; August 5 and lately in August 12, 2013.

Two of which were considered severe that several constituents were even rescued and brought to the nearest evacuation centers.

It can be recalled that on September 13, 2012, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office has reported a number of 432 households affected in a flashflood that swept at least 61 houses in Barangay Datal Tampal, a predominated village of the Blaan tribe that is closely located in Brgy. Malandag. 

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), in coordination with the Municipal Engineering Office submitted a list of recommendation and priorities that would eventually resolve the crisis. It includes: the immediate rehabilitation of the damaged Macnit Bridge approach; putting up of more box culverts; activation and resizing of condemned pipelines; dredging of Tinagakan River; redesigning of the Malandag drainage system; construction of a provincial box culvert and protection wall at Prk. Donna Aurora; massive planting of bamboos along the proposed protection wall; and the reconstruction of gateways and de-silting of NIA canals that will be provided with precise monitoring and management of irrigation waters during rainy seasons. 

For the Provincial Government, Constantino said he requested the governor for the immediate deployment of a backhoe unit to work for the dredging of Tinagakan River, and the construction of a larger drainage canal along the provincial roads - with corresponding culverts and or waterways. 

“The recommendation is not yet final. Therefore, we will appreciate it very much if the technical personnel in the PEO could able to provide us with better solutions with their expertise on this matter,” the mayor said. (Isagani P. Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).