LAOAG CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a 492.64-meter flood control structure along Padsan River, providing residents living nearby with added protection against flooding during the rainy season.

"We are pleased to report that both the physical and actual accomplishments stand at 100 percent, with no slippage encountered during the implementation," Ilocos Norte First District Engineer Glenn Miguel said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Our commitment to building resilient infrastructure that serves the public is a testament to our dedication to the future of flood-prone communities in Ilocos Norte," he added.

The structure connects Barangay 6 Tonoton in Piddig and Barangay San Marcos in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

The government allocated P77,199,503.23 for the project sourced from the 2024 General Appropriations Act.

With the completion of the project, Araceli Salem, a resident near the river, expressed optimism that the structure will truly serve its purpose of mitigating flooding.

Salem was among the thousands of residents who were affected when the Padsan River overflowed in July 2023 at the height of Super Typhoon Egay.

The DPWH, meanwhile, said it "continues to uphold its mission of delivering high-quality infrastructure projects that enhance public safety and support national development."

"The primary beneficiaries of this flood control initiative are the residents and surrounding communities of Piddig and Sarrat, who now enjoy increased protection against seasonal flooding," it added.

DPWH PHOTO