ALABEL, Sarangani (August 26, 2009) – Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo on Tuesday (August 25) urged and thanked Malacanang for “a sense of urgency, drive for immediate action” for the rehabilitation plan of the “Mindanao River of Peace”.
Quevedo, chair of the Presidential Task Force-Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development (PTF-MRBRD) Project, presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Cabinet Secretaries a consolidated report and recommendations during its 11th regular meeting at Isla Parilla Resort Hotel here where the Cabinet also held its 33rd regular meeting.
Right there and then, President Arroyo approved a P50-million project study for the project’s master plan. The Mindanao River Basin is the country’s second largest river basin with an area of 23,170 sq. kms. where major rivers Banga, Ala, Pulangi, Mindanao, Simuay and Tamontaka meet.
“I would like to commend all the government agencies, including the military and the police, for the equipment and personnel who assisted thousands of evacuees from Cotabato City, Region XII and ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),” Quevedo said.
“The response of the President is always very good for the task force,” Quevedo said. “Though it takes sometime in going to the bottom of its implementation.”
The immediate causes of flooding that destroy various main bridges connecting provinces and municipalities in the region are the continuous heavy rain over Bukidnon, Agusan, Davao, Lanao, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.
Such heavy downpour dislodged hectares of grass and water hyacinth covering large portions of the Mindanao River Basin and pushed them down river. Dredging and bridge inactivity compounded the siltation of all the rivers to and from the basin.
Quevedo’s report also noted the accumulation of sand, mud and sediments brought about by water flowing from various parts of the area, and inappropriate land practices.
The PTF-MRBRD lined up 18 recommendations in a 10-year plan or a total of P1.180 billion for the complete rehabilitation of the basin.
“I pray that our action and documentation for the release of funds and the deployment of equipment and personnel will be similarly passed for the implementation of the project,” Quevedo said.
President Arroyo said the first recommended action by the task force which is the channelization and bank protection at Simuay River is now on-going. Simuay River is one of the major egresses of all river flows from the Mindanao basin to the sea or Illana Bay.
Typhoons Frank (2008) and Cosme caused P1.2 billion worth of damages in infrastructure, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways, and agricultural livestock. Typhoon Jolina caused 95,000 internally displaced persons.
The provinces of Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Cotabato City had declared a state of calamity due to heavy flooding.
In Sarangani, Governor Migs Dominguez admitted the adverse effects of flooding to the province’s agriculture and infrastructure.
“In Sarangani, all our needs were addressed. Thanks to Secretary Teodoro who gave attention to our complaints,” Dominguez said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has been visiting the province particularly Maasim town for school rehabilitation and construction, with additional infrastructure projects. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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