In Lingayen, Pangasinan, a PHP23 million floodgate project in Sitio Aplaya, Barangay Pangapisan North, has already begun to protect around 1,400 families from flooding, despite being only 60% complete. The initiative, inspected by Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark Cojuangco on January 13, 2025, has significantly alleviated a 24-year flooding issue in the area, much to the relief of residents and school officials.
Barangay Captain Jojo Viray expressed the community’s joy, noting that the area, once dubbed ‘water world’ due to frequent flooding caused by high tides and the rainy season, is now seeing substantial improvements. The project, which began in February of the previous year and is funded by the 2024 national budget, includes a floodgate to block water from the Lingayen Gulf during high tides and machine-operated pumps to drain water during heavy rains or storm surges.
Cojuangco mentioned that the project is expected to be fully completed by March or April of this year. A second pump is on standby for extreme weather conditions. The floodgate operates by opening during low tide to allow water to exit and closing before high tide to prevent water ingress.
This project is part of a larger initiative to build floodgates and sea walls along the Lingayen Gulf, with a total allocation of PHP139 million. However, the project has faced some opposition from residents concerned about its impact on their livelihoods, particularly their ability to safely dock their boats.
Additional floodgate projects are planned for Villa Maniboc, Alvear Street, PNP Road in Libsong East, Libsong West in Lingayen, and Buenlag in Binmaley.