BANGUED, Abra (PIA) - - The Regional Development Council has  approved the endorsement of the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project (InFRA Project) Phase I covering the Abra River Basin  to the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board which approves major capital projects.

The InFRA project is expected to boost climate change resilience and flood risk management of the Abra River Basin which covers the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province and Benguet.   The Abra River Basin is the sixth largest basin in the Philippines.

 The project costs P4.7 million proposed for funding through a loan from the Asian Development Bank with a government counterpart. It will have three major outputs namely improved strategic flood risk management planning, development of flood protection infrastructure in the river basin and strengthen community-based flood risk management.

To be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways, it is expected to start in June 2022 and will end on December 2028.

 Department of Environment and Natural Resources – CAR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said   that prior to the implementation of the project, required documents from the DPWH such as environmental studies, endorsement of the Provincial Local Government of Abra and the Certificate of Precondition based on the Free Prior and Informed Consent   process of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples   should be submitted.

 The RDC-CAR Sectoral Committees on Infrastructure Development and Watershed and Environmental Management earlier endorsed the project for approval and implementation. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Abra)