Critical portions of dike identified

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The portions of Arnedo Dike that require immediate concern to avoid any untoward incident this coming rainy season have already been identified.

Roland Pineda, director of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the portion of the dike in the villages of Cupang and Guemasan in Arayat should be rehabilitated early, otherwise it might endanger not only the residents from the municipality as well as from other neighboring towns.

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Pineda also said the continuous collapse of scoured portion of Arnedo Dike in San Luis might trigger problems on flooding.

As this developed, Governor Lilia Pineda asked the municipal mayors along the stretch of Pampanga River to monitor the segments of Arnedo dike in their respective municipalities.

"The dike's damage report will be used in the decision-making of the Provincial Government on how it could augment the municipal budget for the implementation of palliative measures to be undertaken by the respective municipalities in partnership with the Provincial Government," the governor said.

She added that there is a need to strengthen the dike through bamboo cribbing and sandbagging operations to avoid scouring that causes perennial flooding in most of the villages.

However, it was learned that the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has a remaining budget of P66-million and could not implement long term projects such as revetment or slope protection.

The governor also said long term projects should be coordinated with national agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Disaster Coordinating Council for fund augmentation. (Herbert P. Mapiles)