Background of Amburayan-Bauang-Pamplona River Basin

The Philippines is considered to be one of the disaster-prone countries in the world due to its geo-physical
location and socio-economic conditions. According to the German Watch (Kreft and Eckstein, 2014), the
Philippine ranks second in its 2012 Climate Risk Index, which indicates the level of exposure and
vulnerability to extreme events and should be understood as warning to be prepared for more frequent
and/or more severe events in the future. The Philippines’ exposure to disasters is to a significant extent
due to the country’s geographical and physical characteristics, lying along the world’s busiest typhoon
belt and on vastness of warm ocean water in Western Pacific Ocean (ADPC, 2003). On average, the
country is frequented by 20 tropical cyclones annually, almost half of which made landfall. Between
2006-2016, more than half (65%) of the tropical cyclones that entered the Philippine Area of
Responsibility (PAR) made landfall in the country. About 10 were particularly deadly and destructive in
terms of casualties and cost of damages. From 2000 to 2012, natural disasters in the Philippines caused
the death of 12,899 people and the socio-economic damages are estimated at US$3.37 billion with
average annual damages of US$251.58 million.
One of the important strategies for national development in the Philippines is to assure the safety against
natural disasters, especially floods. The flood mitigation/ control has been one of the principle strategies
in the country’s medium-term development programs and strengthened in the latest Philippine
Development Plan for 2011-2016. The DPWH, which is mandated to implement the infrastructure
development projects including flood control works, has also prioritized in the implementation of flood
control projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Medium Term Project
Investment Program (MTPIP).
The Study on “The Nationwide Flood Risk Assessment and the Flood Mitigation Plan for the Selected
Areas in the Republic of the Philippines” has been conducted with a technical assistance of Japan
International Corporation Agency (JICA) to prioritize the river basins for the implementation of flood
control projects. Totally 56 objective river basins for the implementation until the year 2034 and
prioritized in two groups of foreign and local fund projects. As indicated by the Study, it will require a
long time and huge investments to realize project implementation with their full-scale improvement
works.
(A) Amburayan River
Amburayan River has a total length of 88.528 km and a drainage area of 1010.690 km2.
Frequently flooded municipalities are Tagudin, Alilem, Bangar, Sudipen, Sugpon, Santol,
Buguias, Kibungan, San Gabriel, Kapangan, and Atok with total estimated inundated area of 22
km2. Sugpon is identified as flood prone area. Amburayan River originates from the Cordillera
mountains and traverses the provinces of Benguet, La Union, and Ilocos Sur, where it empties
into the South China Sea. The mouth of Amburayan River being open to the South China Sea is
vulnerable to tsunami, and obviously prone to flooding because its lower course is prone to river
bank erosion and channel migration, and is also prone to coastal hazards such as coastal erosion,
siltation or storm surges.
(B) Bauang River
Bauang River has a total length of 59.990 km and a drainage area of 507.392 km2. Frequently
flooded municipalities are San Fernando, Bagulin, Naguilian, Burgos, Kapangan, Sablan,
Bauang, and La Trinidad with total estimated inundated area of 8 km2. Naguilian is identified as
flood prone area. Bauang River originates in the mountains east of San Fernando City and flows
in westerly direction before emptying into the Lingayen Gulf. The Naguilian River, a major
 tributary joins the Bauang River with its confluence located about one km southwest of the
Naguilian Poblacion. Due to its massive flood plains, these municipalities are frequently affected
by flooding, erosions, and bank scouring.

(C) Pamplona River

Pamplona River has a total length of 55.948 km and a drainage area of 668.570 km2. Frequently
flooded municipalities are Pamplona, Luna, Calanasan with total estimated inundated area of 16
km2. Pamplona is identified as flood prone area. The source of Pamplona River originates from
the mountain ranges of Cordillera which encloses the Southwest boundaries of Cagayan and the
Sierra Madre mountains from the eastern coast. The basin drains the provinces of Kalinga and
Apayao and flows to various river systems of Cagayan traversing the province from South to
North. The Pamplona River is fed by two tributaries coming from the mountains of Kalinga and
meets at the middle stream of the Pamplona River at Station 11+600 flowing down north while
draining the plains and valleys of Pamplona on its way out to the Babuyan Channel which faces
the Pacific Ocean. The aggradation of the riverbed is considered to be the main cause of flooding
in Pamplona while the debris of rocks and logs carried by strong water current causes destruction
of the river banks and existing flood control structures.