CALAPAN CITY, Philippines – A multi-agency group, composed of the provincial government, congressional district office and the private sector, has drawn up a plan to address the perennial flooding in Oriental Mindoro particularly in the low-lying areas of its first district.

The plan, dubbed Mag-Asawang Tubig River Multi-urpose Project (MTRMPP), will be a multi-purpose project that is expected to solve the massive flooding in the province and the anticipated inundation of the district’s low-lying Calapan City and the towns of Baco, Naujan and Victoria should a heavy downpour occurs in this rainy season, said Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia of Mindoro (1st district).

The first district of Oriental Mindoro covers this city, and the municipalities of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro and Pola.

In a consultative meeting held recently at Valencia’s Makati City office, provincial executives firmed up and agreed to pursue the project, which will entail actual planning, studying, coordinating until President Benigno C. Aquino III certifies as “priority” the House Bill No. 4899 or the creation of Mag-Asawang Tubig River Multi-Purpose Project (MTRMPP).

Besides Valencia, also present in the meeting were Mindoro Gov. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. and representatives from the private sector led by K4 Oriental Mindoro Council president Nico Valencia.

The bill, authored by Valencia and filed at the House of Representatives last July 5, will pave the way for the management of flood control in the first district of Oriental Mindoro. The bill also seeks to study potential energy sources in the area and administer an irrigation system from the river.

The project will cover an estimated 49-kilometer length of waterways from the top of Mount Halcon down Calapan City Bay and Tablas Strait.

Citing a study by private engineers and the House of Representatives, Valencia said about half of the entire area of the northern part of Oriental Mindoro or the first district will be flooded following a heavy downpour.

The study further said that as high as five meters may cover the area once a massive rainfall occurs. – Juancho Mahusay.

(Published at the Philippine Star Online.)