The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Monday that the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) is estimated to cost around P75 billion. According to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, this preliminary figure is based on feasibility studies and may be refined following detailed engineering designs, which are expected to start in 2025. Civil construction is projected to commence by 2026.
A major component of the project is the Sabo Dam in Albay, estimated at P22 billion. Originally initiated in the 1970s and halted in 1986, the BRBDP is being revisited under the Marcos administration as a long-term flood control solution. The project includes diking systems, interceptor channels, and channel cuts to manage flooding in the Bicol River Basin, a region frequently affected by severe flooding, including recent inundations following Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
In addition to DPWH efforts, the project is receiving support from the Korean Exim Bank, which is assisting with the re-evaluation and technical planning for the program.