CABANATUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a 214-lineal meter flood mitigation structure along the Talavera River in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.
The agency constructed the P47.8-million structure in Barangay Palestina using funds from the 2024 national budget.
DPWH Nueva Ecija 1st District Engineer Osias Santos said the structure, which connects to existing river walls, enhances the safety of local residents from river overflow while also protecting nearby agricultural lands from flood-related damage.
“Barangay Palestina, known for its vegetable production, faces recurring flooding due to its proximity to the Talavera River. During Super Typhoon Pepito, flooding rendered a section of the national road in the barangay passable only to heavy vehicles,” Santos explained.
He added that the two-berm structure, built on a steel sheet pile foundation with a concrete beam coping and concrete slope protection, prevents erosion and ensures long-term stability, particularly during the rainy season.
The project is part of a series of flood control structures along the Talavera River that strengthen flood defenses in the area, ensuring long-term sustainability and supporting the livelihoods of local farmers. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)
