Major causes of tail dike breach found

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Provincial officials on Monday identified the major causes of the breaching of the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Taildike.

Board Member Nestor "Bay" Tolentino made the disclosure during the joint hearing of the committees on environment and natural resources and public works at the Capitol.

Tolentino identified the major causes of the breach which resulted in massive flooding in the two towns in the fourth district and the City of San Fernando recently as the lack of maintenance of the tail dike, indiscriminate quarrying, encroachment and illegal structures constructed by informal settlers, and undermining and seepage.

“Though the discussions during the hearing were heated, it was good that we were able to identify the major causes of the breaching of the tail dike. With that, we can now move on with the unified direction regarding the proper interventions Capitol and other cooperating agencies would implement as soon as possible,” Tolentino told Sun.Star Pampanga.

He added that the issues, foremost of which is non-maintenance of the 16-year-old tail dike and indiscriminate quarrying have been elevated to the proper authorities for immediate action.

“The illegal structures along the Pampanga River are set to be demolished by the DPWH soon without exemption. The concern on indiscriminate quarrying is being addressed now by our ENRO. Funding for the maintenance of the tail dike once repaired, plus the mega dike, has also been forwarded to the Provincial Board through the proper proposal and resolution. The bottom line reached during the hearing was the coordinated works to be implemented to once and for all end flooding in the Fourth District and nearby towns and the City of San Fernando,” stressed Tolentino.

He also urged the stakeholders present during the three-hour hearing to set aside politics in the effort to find permanent solutions to the problems.

“I urge our fellow stakeholders, especially our colleagues in public service, to cease on politicizing the issue and just think and focus on the welfare of our citizenry and serve so that our moves and plans would be really credible,” concluded Tolentino.

Those who attended the hearing were Sto. Tomas Mayor Joselito Naguit, Minalin Mayor Arturo Naguit, Department of Public Works and Highways, Phivolcs, Pagasa, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office head Art Punsalan, Board Members Melchor Pingol, Ricardo Yabut, Crisostomo Garbo, Salvador Dimson, Jr., Tarcicio Halili and representatives of non-government organizations like the Save Minalin Movement and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.