Politics · Philippines Bureau
Benguet to build detention basins to shield strawberry farms from floods
Government engineers have proposed constructing water collection basins in the La Trinidad Valley to prevent recurring flooding that has damaged Benguet's renowned strawberry farms over the past decade. The infrastructure project aims to manage mountain runoff during heavy rainfall events.
LSN Philippines ·
BAGUIO CITY — Officials are moving forward with plans to install detention basins across Benguet's La Trinidad Valley as a flood mitigation strategy for the region's strawberry farming communities and surrounding areas.
The proposed water collection structures would be positioned to capture runoff descending from the mountains during intense rainfall periods. According to government engineers who briefed Public Works Secretary Vivencio, the basins represent a targeted approach to addressing flooding that has increasingly affected the valley over nearly a decade.
Recent weather events underscore the urgency of the project. Three weeks of continuous rainfall highlighted the vulnerability of the La Trinidad Valley's agricultural infrastructure, particularly its strawberry farms, which are a major draw for domestic and international tourists visiting the Cordillera region.
The detention basins are designed to collect and temporarily hold water that would otherwise flow rapidly down slopes, reducing flooding risk to both farming operations and residential areas. Engineers indicated the infrastructure would help manage the volume and speed of runoff during heavy downpours.
The project reflects growing recognition of the need for structural flood management solutions in mountain valleys where topography naturally channels water toward populated and cultivated areas. Officials have not yet announced a timeline for construction or budget allocation for the initiative.