Biliran flood control wall completed

MANILA, Philippines - The construction of a Japanese-funded 150-meter river flood control wall in Biliran destroyed by the typhoon that affected 3,7000 residents has been completed.                              

Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura attended yesterday the inauguration ceremony of “The Project for Construction of River Flood Control in the Municipality of Caibiran, Biliran,” that was funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects with a grant of $57,930 (approximately P2.7 million).

Biliran, a province in Eastern Visayas, has a very pronounced rainy season every year. About 19 percent of the tropical depressions that enter the country hit the province. In the municipality of Caibiran, coastal barangays, specifically Barangay Victory, have always experienced flooding during the rainy season.

The existing flood control wall which was constructed more than 20 years ago is no longer adequate to contain the swelling of the river.

In 2008, when typhoon Frank hit the entire Visayas Region, Barangay Victory with 3,700 residents was not spared from the destruction. About 72 houses were totally damaged and a lot of families had to flee to safer parts of the barangay.

To ease the situation of the residents in Barangay Victory, the Japanese embassy in Manila supported the construction of a 150-meter river flood control wall. With the grant from GGP, flooding will be prevented, and the safety of some 3,700 residents during typhoons will be ensured. It is also expected that cases of water-borne diseases in the barangay will be reduced.

Japan launched as the top donor of the official development assistance, GGP in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities.

As of March, 434 grassroots projects funded by GGP - ranging from roughly P1 to 4 million - have been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations. The total grant for these projects so far amounts to $18,982,775.