The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a P9.5-million flood control structure designed to protect vulnerable communities and farmlands in Barangay Talospatang in this town.

In a statement on Monday, DPWH Ilocos Region information officer Esperanza Tinaza said the new flood mitigation project aims to strengthen the area’s flood resistance while safeguarding livelihoods.

“Prior to implementation, the area had frequent soil erosion, especially during the wet season. Rising water levels in the Marusay River frequently overflow and damage the soil structure, creating dangers to property, infrastructure, and agricultural output,” Tinaza said.

The project features 77.60 lineal meters of slope protection, including Type-Z steel sheet piles, structural concrete works, a revetment wall, and a parapet wall at the top berm.

“Ultimately, the completion of this infrastructure will strengthen the soil along riverbanks, bringing crucial stability to the area,” she said.

“The combination of concrete revetments and sheet pile foundations will minimize erosion and protect flood control embankments from scouring.”

The project is expected to significantly benefit local farmers by protecting crops and ensuring more consistent agricultural yields, even during extreme weather events.

Funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2025, the flood control project began construction on February 12, 2025, and was finished successfully on March 13. (PNA)