LOBOC RIVER FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT | Steel sheet piles line a stretch of the Loboc River in Bohol as part of the P3.5-billion flood control project being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office 7. (Contributed photo)
The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office 7 has agreed to temporarily suspend the installation of new steel sheet piles for its flood control projects along the Loboc River, following concerns from local stakeholders that the works are altering the river’s natural character.
DPWH-7 Assistant Regional Director Engr. Nonato Paylado made the commitment during a committee hearing of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Board Member Jamie Villamor, who said a joint ocular inspection must first be conducted before any new sheet piles are installed.
Stakeholders raised concerns that the ongoing flood control works have stripped the Loboc River of its iconic appearance, with some describing the affected stretch as now resembling a “canal” rather than the scenic waterway that has long drawn tourists to the town.
They urged DPWH-7 to clarify how far the concrete structures would extend and called on the agency to exclude areas no longer suitable for construction — including nipa palm groves — to preserve what remains of the river’s original landscape.
Lawmakers and stakeholders were careful to note that no one opposed flood control work outright, but stressed that the natural beauty of the Loboc River must also be protected.
The suspension comes amid scrutiny of the P3.5-billion Loboc River Flood Control Project, one of the largest infrastructure investments in Bohol, which involves the construction of revetments, embankments, and sheet pile walls along stretches of the river.
Critics and local officials have questioned whether the scale and design of the works adequately balance disaster risk reduction with environmental and heritage preservation along a river that serves as a centerpiece of Bohol’s tourism industry.