Maguindanao: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has unveiled plans for two significant flood control projects in Maguindanao. These initiatives aim to address persistent flooding issues in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH has completed the feasibility study for the PHP39.219-billion project, and it is now pending loan application approval. The initiative includes the design and construction of the Ambal Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects, with construction scheduled to begin in March 2026 and completion expected by February 2030.

The projects will be situated in the Mindanao mainland, part of the Mindanao River Basin (MRB) System. The MRB covers a catchment area of 20,765 square kilometers and is recognized as the second largest river basin in the Philippines. The Ambal-Simuay River, located in the westernmost part of the MRB, encompasses a catchment area of 656 square kilometers and includes the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao del Norte.

Conversely, the Rio Grande de Mindanao, or "Mindanao River," passes through Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat. The DPWH emphasized that these projects aim to reduce flooding in Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, and Sultan Mastura. Additionally, the initiatives are designed to prevent riverbed degradation, enhance the ecological state of the MRB, and stimulate economic activities for approximately 4 to 9 million residents within the MRB's geographic scope.