Master Plan And Feasibility Study For Food Control And Drainage Project In Lake Mainit Water Basin

(n.b. from the blogger - the following article is a reprint from the pidjanga of mainit, surigao del norte blog which piece is hoped to be of interest to the people of jabonga, agusan del norte. apologies to the owner of said article.)

By: Engr. Kaiser B. Recabo, Jr., Director, LMDA (Lake Mainit Development Alliance)

The PMO assisted the Woodfields Consultant, Inc., a planning and engineering consulting firm commission[ed] by the DPWH Project Management Office for Flood Control and SABO Engineering Center for the conduct of Master Plan and Feasibility Study on flooding in one of the 15 river basin[s] in the Philippines in which Lake Mainit is one site. This activity is a welcome development to solve the perennial flooding in the area and is long awaited project for the past 5 years. The team is composed of MR. SUSUMU HEISHE and ENGR. BARRY OCAY. They had also provided us a survey questionnaire on flood and sediment damage and present flood control, sabo and drainage facilities which was distributed to the six LGU’s affected by flooding.

The team schedule[d] a five-day visit last Jan. 22 to 26, 2010 to gather data from different concerned agencies like DPWH Engineering District for both Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte, NIA, PAGASA, PPDO of both provinces and selected LGU’s. The PMO had accompanied and guided them in their familiarization and ocular survey in the Lake and its tributaries including ground trotting of the Kalinawan River. The team visited all the tributaries that are passable by vehicle starting on the western side on the lake, from the Mayag river in Mainit and all rivers that it passes to the National Highway in Alegria, Kitcharao then going inside the inlet of Kalinawan in Jabonga.

In Jabonga, the team had survey[ed] the Bangonay River up to sitio Apaapa, Bangonay, Jabonga where the river split into two river, the Puyo and Bangonay. They also visit the confluence of Bangonay river and Kalinawan river at sitio Nangka, Colorado, Jabonga and ground trot the flood plains between Jabonga and Santiago. In Santiago we visit[ed] the Aciga river down to its confluence with Kalinawan at Brgy. Lapaz, Santiago. The team river-cruise[d] from Lapaz to Corro in Jabonga to search for the rapids or any condition that may cause the flooding. The last area we visited i[wa]s the Tubay river toward the sea.

All rivers and interesting sites are being marked by GPS including the maximum inundation level of the flooding. Photographs [which] will also take a brief history i[wa]s being recorded. The initial data gather[ed] will be consolidated including the survey questionnaire and analyze[d]. The team will be back by March to present the initial report and possible options to solve the flooding in the Lake Mainit.