With the launching of the dredging project, the Governor expressed optimism that it will minimize the severe flooding that hit the Northern towns last rainy season. “Hindi man matapos ngayon, baka sa susunod na taon ay matatapos din tong flooding project natin,” pointed out Garcia.
Earlier, the DPWH has sought at least P500 million yearly fund to solve the severe flooding problems in Northern Bataan towns.
Aside from these towns, a similar project has also been undertaken in Balanga City after Mayor Joet S. Garcia and Rep. Tet Garcia, 2nd district, sought funds for the immediate dredging in the City.
Eng’r. Reynaldo Venturina of the DPWH 2nd Engineering District said earlier that the DPWH national and regional offices had been rushing the master plan and Term of Reference (TOR) for the flooding problem here and it is really bent on ridding the flooding problem as sought by the local leaders.
A few months ago, Gov. Garcia issued an emergency appeal to Pres. Aquino and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to allocate funds for the dredging and desiltation of heavily-silted rivers and water ways in this town, saying “the people here will pay dearly if the flooding problem will not be immediately addressed.”
“As far as I know, an initial amount of P78 million will be allocated first by the DPWH for the dredging of Cataning River which has caused the severe flooding of this town recently after it overflowed,” said Venturina.
This was followed by another P45 million in Northern Bataan project, DPWH Regional Director Antonio Molano told the Governor.
Recently, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) submitted to Malacanang and Congress its proposed P4.39 billion rehabilitation plan for areas devastated by typhoons Labuyo, Odette and Santi in Central Luzon this 2013.
Eng’r. Wilfredo S. Mallari (DPWH 1st district) said that the fund being used was actually recommended by DPWH regional office after “computing” the programs of work for the projects such as massive dredging, diversion and rechanneling of water ways, among others.
“The project estimated cost is at least P3.5 billion and this was the recommendation made by the DPWH regional office to be implemented in the next seven years, starting this year (if there is available fund),” pointed out Engr. Mallari.
“We had already crafted a feasibility study on how to address the flooding problem in the towns of Dinalupihan and Hermosa in Bataan and Lubao town in Pampanga, together with the cost of the projects that would take seven years to do,” Mallari told the Governor.
Under the scheme, Eng’r. Mallari said that the DPWH Regional Office had proposed for three phases – urgent, short term and medium term- under their so called alternatives 1, 2 and 3.
Garcia appealed to Sec Rogelio Singson to consider the request of the Province to save the lives of the people in Bataan.
