CABANATUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed key infrastructure projects that improve local travel and enhance flood protection in barangays of Cabanatuan City.
These include concreting a 1,707.9-linear-meter road in Barangay Daan Sarile and constructing a P75.65-million flood mitigation structure in Barangay Mayapyap Sur.
DPWH Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineer Robert Jay Panaligan said the road improvement was carried out in two sections—Section A measuring 569.30 linear meters and Section B spanning 1,138.6 linear meters—at a total cost of P5.85 million.
“Prior to this upgrade, Section A was a dirt road, while Section B had a deteriorated concrete surface with numerous potholes caused by wear and tear from constant use, making travel especially difficult during the rainy season,” Panaligan said.
He added that while roads like the one in Barangay Daan Sarile may fall outside the national network, their role in connecting communities and supporting local economies makes such upgrades equally important.
Meanwhile, OIC-Assistant District Engineer Leonora Cruz explained that the 326-linear-meter flood mitigation structure along the Baca River features a two-berm configuration, with a steel sheet pile foundation, concrete beam coping, and concrete slope protection to prevent erosion and ensure long-term stability.
She emphasized the importance of the project, noting that the waterway, a tributary of the Pampanga River, plays a key role in local drainage, and reinforcing its banks is crucial to reducing flood risks and protecting nearby communities.
While DPWH typically focuses on major infrastructure, the Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office continues to support communities in Cabanatuan City through road and flood mitigation projects in barangays with pressing infrastructure needs. (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)
