NEWS

By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency | September 1, 2026 6:01pm

FLOOD MITIGATION. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon (in gray polo shirt) answers question from reporters during the turnover rites for the newly constructed Imus Retarding Basin in Imus City, Cavite on Tuesday (Sept. 1, 2026). The PHP2.4 billion project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, aims to protect Cavite from severe flooding with the two off-site retarding basins temporarily delaying flood run-off before its gradual release to the Imus River, keeping downstream communities safer and mitigating flood damage to infrastructure, agriculture, personal properties and even loss of lives. (Screengrab from DPWH video)

MANILA – Government officials and a foreign development agency on Tuesday turned over the newly constructed Imus Retarding Basin located in Imus City, to the provincial government of Cavite, aimed at helping mitigate flooding in the area.

The turnover rites at the newly built project in the city’s Barangay Anabu 1-G was led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla and officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which funded the facility’s construction.

Dizon said before the construction of the facility, floods in the area are chest-deep.

“Mayor AA (Alex Advincula), former Governor and Secretary Jonvic (Remulla), and Governor (Francisco Gabriel Remulla) told me that before this facility—and other retarding basins—were built, floodwaters here would reach chest-high. Now, the water from the main Imus River has a designated catchment area instead of overflowing into the streets, homes, and communities; the water is contained there, so flooding in Imus—which used to reach chest level—is virtually gone,” Dizon said in an interview.

“Don’t just take our word for it; perhaps you should speak to the residents of Imus so they can tell you themselves,” he added.

The DPWH chief noted that the Imus Retarding Basin will be a model for the construction of other retarding basins, including other retarding basins that have been built in the past.

“It is important for our countrymen to see this so that they do not lose hope that if we do this, and do it right. Just like what was done here in Cavite, there is also a solution to the problem in Central Luzon,” he said.

The PHP2.4 billion project aims to protect Cavite from severe flooding with the two off-site retarding basins temporarily delaying flood run-off before its gradual release to the Imus River, keeping downstream communities safer and mitigating flood damage to infrastructure, agriculture, personal properties and even loss of lives.

The project was completed in 2023. The ceremony was held for the turnover of the facility’s operation and maintenance to the local government unit of Imus.

Funded through a JICA loan, the facility covers 35 hectares — roughly equivalent to 49 soccer fields. It can hold up to 1.12 million cubic meters of water, or the equivalent of approximately 448 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

At the same time, Dizon announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., will visit Central Luzon on Wednesday, which was badly hit by heavy monsoon rains in the past weeks. (PNA)

Source: Philippine News Agency

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