BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 13 (Caraga Region) reported Tuesday the completion of a PHP48.2 million flood control project in Santiago, Agusan del Norte, aimed at protecting residents and agriculture from severe flooding. According to DPWH-13, the project - extending 620 meters along the Aciga River - was implemented by the Agusan del Norte Engineering District and began construction in February 2024. 'The flood control project will protect the center of Santiago town from overflowing flash floods, especially during heavy rains,' the department said in a statement Tuesday. It said the new flood wall was designed to prevent floodwaters from damaging farmland and the town's central areas during heavy rains, enhancing community resilience. Last month, DPWH-13 also completed two additional flood control projects in Santiago - a 390-meter concrete dike along the Aciga River from Poblacion 1 to the Kalinawan River in La Paz, costing PHP144.7 million, and a 275-meter structure in Poblacion valued at PHP125.4 million. The department said these projects collectively strengthen Santiago's flood defenses, aiming to minimize risks to both lives and livelihoods in the region. Source: Philippines News Agency