CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept 13, 2012-Regional Development Council (RDC) committees on Infrastructure Development (SCID) and Pampanga River Basin Committees (PRBC) conducted a joint meeting with Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson to discuss immediate and long-term solutions to perennial flooding in Central Luzon.
The meeting came in the aftermath of the continuous southwest monsoon rains last month which inundated many parts of Region 3 causing damage to many rice fields and infrastructures including a tail dike which protects the city of San Fernando and towns of Minalin and Sto. Tomas in Pampanga.
RDC Chair and City of San Fernando Oscar Rodriguez warned, “If (the tail dike problem is) not solved immediately, the situation would be a big setback to the transportation sector in the area. It may also put to waste investments in national road projects, particularly the rehabilitation of the McArthur Highway and the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways.”
For her part, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda said that the, “The provincial government of Pampanga will assist Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for any action taken on the silted water flowing down the channel.”
Accordingly, Rodriguez presented the multi-sectoral resolution among the city government of San Fernando, Pampanga, Bacolor and Minalin, DPWH III, and private sector representatives recommending for the immediate and long-term solutions for the destroyed tail dike and
several river channels affecting the province.
In response, Singson acknowledged the need to immediately close the breached dikes. He also committed on the availability of the quick response fund o his Department to assist LGUs affected and involved in addressing the problem. He emphasized however, that in doing so, DPWH
and LGUs should work hand in hand.
Meanwhile, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado recommended the revival of the Pampanga River Control System (PRCS) or the creation of a similar agency responsible for the periodic maintenance and repair of the drainage channels and dike in the region.
Singson noted that, “A river basin approach requires a multi-stakeholder organization treatment since water has no boundaries and can involve several provinces in the process.”
The Public Works chief, who was appointed as water czar by the President, revealed that the development of natural-impounding areas or catchments such as the Candaba Swamp is one of the medium to long-term solutions the DPWH have been studying.
According to Singson, these impounding areas will control the release of water in the downstream to prevent further damages but will also utilize water for irrigation, livelihood and domestic use.
Singson said they will also give priority to the desilting of the Orani Channel in Bataan where water from Samal, Abucay, Hermosa, and Dinalupihan drain to Manila Bay.
He also said the need to continue the implementation of the Pampanga River Delta Project.
Singson affirmed that the national government will provide whatever available assistance it can extend to alleviate the flooding in the region. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)
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