Hermosa needs P300 M funds for flood control project

Hermosa needs P300 M funds for flood control project

By Raffy C. Viray

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Outgoing three-termer Bataan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member has estimated P 300 million budget is needed to solve the perennial flooding in the northern Bataan town of Hermosa.

Provincial board member Gaudencio Ferrer, Agricultural Committee chair, said the big problem of Hermosa town remains flooding of coastal villages up to the town poblacion unless about eleven hectares of fishpond dikes would be demolished to ensure no impediment of floodwaters to Manila Bay this coming rainy season.

Ferrer, who served as  two-termer Hermosa municipal mayor, said he initiated dynamite blasting of almost one kilometer illegal dikes in 1998 with the police regional command demolition team from Camp Olivas, Pampanga which resulted to the easing of waterways even during  heavy downpour.

However, Ferrer is confident that the newly-elected Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton has many friends in the higher echelon of the government while serving as member of the congressional staff of then Bataan Rep. Albert Raymond Garcia of the second district, for the needed technical and budgetary necessity of the multi-million peso flood control project in Hermosa town.

The incoming Hermosa Mayor Inton should meet his technical and planning  staff to hasten the preparation of economic modules which would provide job opportunities and creation of viable commercial areas since the town has limited public space compared to other municipalities in the province, Ferrer said.

In assessing the present status of  the 90 hectares Hermosa Economic Zone in Barangay Palihan, Ferrer said he would recommend to incoming Mayor Inton to negotiate with the former chair and administrator  Felicito Payumo of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the acquisition of about 300 hectares in  upland villages of of Mabiga and Tipo adjacent to SBMA  to become  a Science Park of the Philippines.

He said with proposed expansion plan for special ecozone, more local and foreign businessmen are reportedly interested to put up industrial and commercial enterprises which would generate bigger revenues for local government and job openings to Hermosa and Dinalupihan residents.

Ferrer added that the new local administration should also look after the welfare of the residents in six upland villages through the creation of livelihood projects, opening of farm to market roads and other agriculturally-related  economic components.