President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., accompanied by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, visited Cagayan province this morning to inaugurate a vital flood control and irrigation facility and inspect a major mobility project aimed at accelerating regional development.
The day’s itinerary began in the town of Claveria, where President Marcos Jr. formally opened the Union Water Impounding Dam, a collaborative effort between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the DPWH. The facility is engineered to mitigate severe flooding while simultaneously serving as a key source for irrigation.
The new dam is set to supply water to 1,050 hectares of farmland, providing reliable support to local agriculture. DPWH Secretary Dizon highlighted the long-term vision behind the infrastructure, noting, “This Union Water Impounding Dam is an example of how flood control projects should be. It is one of our plans to replicate it in other areas that need a flood control solution that can also function as a dam.”
Following the inauguration, the President proceeded to inspect the construction progress of the long-span bridge traversing the Cagayan River, which will significantly improve connectivity between the towns of Calamaniugan and Aparri.
Secretary Dizon emphasized that the project’s expedited timeline is a direct result of the President’s focus on regional infrastructure.
“Our President has instructed us to make the mobility of our countrymen and the livelihood of the Cagayan Region smoother and faster,” said Secretary Dizon. “That is why we are expediting the construction of this 1.58-kilometer Calamaniugan Bridge so that motorists as well as goods and services can travel faster to the northeastern and northwestern parts of Cagayan.”
The combined focus on resilient infrastructure, through the dual-purpose dam, and economic mobility, via the new bridge, underscores the administration’s strategy to bolster Northern Luzon’s food security and transport efficiency.
