Practical Governance! Build More ‘Sabo’ Dams Not Mid-Highway Islands

As Water becomes scarce and Climatic disruptions threaten Agriculture, government must reassess its priorities in implementing infrastructure projects.
Funds spent for those Mid-Highway Islands which amount to billions of pesos every year would bring more benefits to the country, boost food production and prevent soil erosion if used to build water catchments or ‘Sabo’ Dams in the creeks and small rivers, especially in the mountainous regions of the country.
What is a “Sabo” Dam?
“Sabo” Dam, also known as check dam is “a small, sometimes temporary, dam constructed across a swale, drainage ditch, or waterway to counteract erosion by reducing water flow velocity.”
It is “an ancient technique dating from the second century A.D….placed in the ditch, swale, or channel interrupts the flow of water and flattens the gradient of the channel, thereby reducing the velocity,” according to an entry in wikipedia.
The obstruction causes the water level to rise thus elevating the water table in areas located beside the river or the creek and excess water could be diverted to agricultural lands nearby to boost food production.
The “Sabo” Dams also trap sediments resulting from soil erosion thus preventing siltation downstream and creating a virtual quarry site for local construction works.
Small water turbines could also be installed in the spillway of the “Sabo” Dams to generate Hydro-Power for upland communities or those outside the power grid.
Cost-wise, the “Sabo” Dams would only require a fraction of the funds used for building those islands in the middle of the highways which do not serve any purpose at all, except perhaps fatten the pockets of contractors and their benefactors.
With an impending water crisis, low agricultural productivity, serious issues of erosion which causes massive siltation and the country’s debt breaching the P13-Trillion mark, it is imperative that government focuses on practical infrastructure projects .
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Photos of “Sabo” Dams downloaded from public websites.)