MAHINOG, Camiguin – Communities in Camiguin Island have a reason to rejoice after the Japanese government provided a P406,250,000 grant for the implementation of a flood and disaster mitigation project in the province that would protect the local residents from the effects of man-made or natural disasters.

Officials from the provincial government down to the village level, especially the more than 100,000 inhabitants, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the national government for finally completing the project last week.

Part of the completed flood and disaster mitigation project on this island province is the Hubangon Bridge.

Also set to be completed July is the Sabo Dam in Puntod River here.

The Hubangon Bridge was just completed last week and was ahead of schedule in its ground work contract.

The Camiguin flood and disaster mitigation project is closely supervised by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson, Undersecretary for Project Management Office (PMO) Rafael C. Yabut, Assistant Secretary for PMO operations Engineer Emil K. Sadain, Director Rogelio O. Ang of the Major Flood Control and Drainage Project-Cluster II, and Project Management Office (PMO) Manager Dolores M. Hipolito.

It can be recalled that before the ground works of these vital projects took place, Camiguin was hit by debris flow and flash flood due to typhoon “Nanang” in 2001 that brought enormous damage to property, infrastructure projects, and casualties in various parts of the island province, with Barangay Hubangon in the municipality of Mahinog the most heavily damaged area.

Upon urgent request of the provincial government and the DPWH in Region 10 for technical assistance to prevent the effects of future disasters, the government of Japan through the JICA provided assistance for the basic study on disaster prevention and reconstruction project for the island province.

The study primarily resulted to the establishment of community-based non- structural measures such as hazard maps, warning system, and evacuation plans, and the identification of structural mitigation measures.

The construction of the Sabo Dam across the Pontod River and the reconstruction of the heavily damaged Hubangon Bridge in Barangay Hubangon here, were classified as urgent and necessary.