P58M Candaba dike completed soon

Thursday, April 14, 2011

CANDABA – One of the biggest ongoing flood control projects in the fourth district, the P58-million slope protection project along the Pampanga River in Barangay Mandasig here, is expected to be completed soon.

Government engineers are rushing the completion of the project before the onset of the rainy season.

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Fourth district Representative Anna York P. Bondoc-Sagum told Sun.Star Pampanga on Thursday that the project, which consists of the putting-up of steel sheet files, started last week and will be completed in 90 days.

She said that the funding is part of a Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) post-Ondoy/Pepeng loan package from Japan.

"Ito ang pinakamalaking flood control project hindi lamang sa Candaba kundi sa buong distrito natin. Noong nakaraan ay may mga nakukuha rin tayong pondo sa flood control projects kaya lang mga P5, P10 at P20 million lang ang na release kaya nagkukulang ang pagkagawa nito," Bondoc-Sagum said.

She explained that because of the "incomplete" works, portions of the dike are damaged once floodwaters arrive.

"Dahil di nakukumpleto ang proyekto at madaling pinapasok ng tubig ang portion ng slope protection, nasisira ito at bumabagsak. Hopefully next year hindi na mangayayari ito, once na matapos na natin ang malaking portion ng project na ito," she said.

The lady solon assured villagers in Barangays Mandasig, Pasig and Lanang that she will be monitoring the development of the project to assure its quality.

"We just started a week ago at bago kami mag-continue ay talagang ini-open natin ang program of work, pina-meet natin ang contractor at yung mga taong involved kabilang ang LGU at concerned barangays, para malaman kung magkano ang ginagawa at ano ang expectations natin," Bondoc-Sagum said.

Meanwhile Board Member Nestor Tolentino said the project, once completed, will not only benefit the three barangays but will likewise serve all areas in this town’s Kapampangan region.

Tolentino said although the project is considered to be a flood control project, it will also be used as a national road.

"Hindi lamang flood control project ang gamit nito kundi daan din sa ating mga motorista, kahit na magkaroon ng tubig-baha, ito ay madadaanan pa rin nila at hindi na nila kailangan mag-detour," Tolentino said.

Tolentino also reiterated the appeal of Congresswoman Bondoc to contractors of the said slope protection project to consider employing local residents, saying that many of the people of Candaba as well as other fourth district towns are highly skilled when it comes to masonry, carpentry or other labor related works.