A new P96.4 million peso flood control structure along the Apnikan River in Occidental Mindoro province has been completed ahead of schedule, protecting riverside communities from flooding, officials said Tuesday.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed a 431-meter (1,414-foot) concrete revetment wall with steel sheet piles in Barangay Tubuli, Paluan town.

The project is designed to reinforce the riverbank against erosion and prevent water overflow into nearby areas.

Gerald A. Pacanan, DPWH regional director for MIMAROPA, said the project is part of an island-wide flood control plan for Occidental Mindoro.

“Frequent flooding in the Apnikan and adjacent Tubili rivers previously affected agricultural land, livestock, properties and residents’ livelihoods,” Pacanan said.

The structure was funded through the 2024 national budget and implemented by the DPWH Occidental Mindoro District Engineering Office.

Officials expect the project to mitigate flood risks for Mindoro communities, which have long suffered the economic and safety impacts of recurring floods.