DENR identifies poorly situated flood control projects affecting rivers

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified poorly situated flood control projects that are negatively impacting the natural flow of rivers.

DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David explained that these problematic projects, detected through satellite imagery, can manifest in various forms, including duplication, invalid locations, incompleteness, or being poorly positioned.

David highlighted that projects which block, alter, or constrict natural waterways can significantly change water velocity and volume, sometimes transferring flood risk to other areas.

An example from New Bataan, Davao de Oro, shows a dike constricting a river, forcing it to flow straight instead of meandering.

This alteration causes water that would normally spread across the floodplain to be diverted downstream, exacerbating flooding in those areas.