MANILA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Wednesday that it has approved a 303 million U.S. dollars loan to reduce flood and climate risks in three major river basins in the Philippines, one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and disasters caused by natural hazards.

The Manila-based bank said the project will upgrade and construct flood protection infrastructure in the Abra River basin in the country's northern Luzon region, and the Agus and Tagum-Libuganon river basins in the southern Mindanao region.

The infrastructure considers future climate change impacts and incorporates nature-based solutions such as restoring and reconnecting old river channels for natural drainage and reinforcing riverbanks with mangroves and vegetation planting.

The ADB said the project will help strengthen the Philippines' capacity to plan flood risk by training government officials, installing weather and river flow monitoring equipment and early flood warning equipment, and introducing an asset management information system.

"Climate change is expected to raise risks from extreme weather events. These river basin communities are highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards," ADB Senior Water Resources Specialist Junko Sagara said. Enditem

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