CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, August 11, 2012-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will allocate P840 million for the rehabilitation of a destroyed tail dike and various river channels in the province of Pampanga damaged by the two-week intense rains caused by typhoon Gener and the southwest monsoon.
DPWH Regional Director Antonio Molano said such commitment is enclosed in a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the wake of the calamity.
"Under the agreement, solutions that will be undertaken include the immediate re-channeling of the waterway from Gugu Creek down to San Francisco and Labuan rivers; immediate closure of the two breached portions of the tail dike; the rehabilitation and or reconstruction of spillways one and three located in the western portion and the center of the transverse dike," Molano said.
He also said about the revival of the waterways of the Pasig Potrero river from the upper portion of the transverse dike particularly from the Maliwalu portions; and continuing yearly allocation of the necessary funds for the maintenance of the said river channels.
The breach on two portions of the tail dike suddenly created two river channels that became the exit of strong bodies of water with remobilized lahar sediments coming from the upper portion of the transverse dike causing serious flooding and heavy siltation along the three barangays of San Fernando which are San Nicolas, San Pedro Cutud and Sta. Lucia, and the municipalities of Sto. Tomas and Minalin.
In a statement, Governor Lilia Pineda said, "This serious flooding and heavy siltation caused by these breaches, if unabated, will also affect the McArthur Highway, including a portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) between San Fernando and San Simon. At present, this flooding and heavy siltation has already dislocated thousands of residents, caused a few deaths, damaged properties and adversely affected businesses."
Pineda said if construction will not be taken immediately, “baka mangyari sa Pinatubo ang mangyari ngayon (what happened during Pinatubo days will occur at present).”
Latest figures from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reveal that 366 barangays were flooded in Pampanga during the two-week intense rains, affecting 139,359 families or 596,403 individuals.
The council also tallied 15 casualties in the province with one missing.
Meanwhile, the cost of damages in agriculture is at P847 million. Rice crops at P234 milion; corn, P76,000; livestocks, P228,000; high-value commercial crops, P12 million; and fisheries, P601 million. (Joelyn G. Baluyut)
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