President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the inauguration of the PHP7.57-billion Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Project – Stage 1 (IDRR-CCA 1) in the province of Pampanga.

In his speech, Marcos said the project would benefit the towns of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas.

“We are very optimistic that this will redound to improving the people’s lives by enhancing the disaster resilience of all our communities,” Marcos said during the inauguration, held in Barangay Anac in Masantol.

Funded through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Republic of Korea, the project aims to increase and improve the capacity of the Third River, Eastern Branch River, Caduang Tete River, and Sapang Maragul River, all tributaries of the Pampanga River.

The project includes excavation, dredging, and widening of river channels, as well as the construction of embankments to enhance flood control.

In addition, the project involves the construction of three new bridges, five footbridges, eight sluice gate structures, and 164 fish pond gates.

Marcos also thanked the South Korean government for its technical assistance in realizing the project.

The President, likewise, instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure that the second phase of the project will proceed as scheduled “to fully realize the project’s benefits and provide long-term solutions to flooding” in Pampanga.

“Let me assure all that the government, through the Public Works, will expeditiously complete the ongoing flood control projects here in Region 3 (Central Luzon),” Marcos told the Masantol residents in attendance.

He, however, conceded that game-changing flood-control projects are “only half of the solution,” noting that keeping the surroundings clean and drainages waste-free will also help mitigate floods.

“For flood control to work, we must do our part in maintaining our canals and waterways, and in recycling and properly disposing of our garbage,” Marcos said. (PNA)