Friday, August 27, 2004 Pampanga River dike wrecked; 5 towns in danger By Chris Navarro and Joel Mapiles
CANDABA -- Local officials expressed fear that the scouring and destruction of the Pampanga River control along Barangay Mandasig in this town might bring danger to thousands of lives, properties and businesses here and in the nearby towns of San Luis, San Simon, Sta. Ana and Mexico caused by the continuous heavy downpour and flooding.
Mayor Jerry Pelayo said the extent of damage has reached an alarming proportion, as only less than one meter of the earth dike has not been inundated, and is expected to be destroyed by the strong current from upstream.
In this light, Pelayo urged his constituents and those from nearby towns to help in the sandbagging operations as an immediate and temporary measure to avoid the possible destruction of the river control that might risk the lives of thousands of residents.
Pelayo said the local government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should work for the immediate construction of a cut-off channel and dredging of the other side of the river.
Mariano Cunanan, Mandasig barangay chief, noted that fishpond owners with multi-million investments are now doing emergency harvests as they were alarmed by the scouring incident.
Cunanan said he had also advised the 700 families here to evacuate to higher places if the floodwaters along the Pampanga River would overflow, and if the continuous scouring of the river control could not be prevented and given immediate solution.
Pelayo said he has reorganized the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) to conduct a 24-hour monitoring activity and to coordinate and update the provincial, regional and national disaster coordinating councils on the status and extent of damages here.
Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, together with provincial administrator Fidel Arcenas, Provincial Engineer Jay Macatuno, PSWD officer Luchie Gutierez and Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) executive director Andy Austria personally went to Barangay Mandasig to assess the situation and to provide empty sacks and relief goods.
Lapid said he will ask for the assistance of the National Government to provide funding for the permanent concreting of the dike, which will cost some P50 million.
He added that the Provincial Government does not have the funds to rebuild the dike.
Lapid also appealed to concerned citizens to donate used clothing, canned goods and other useful materials to be given to affected families.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Nelson Calara meanwhile said he supports the call of Lapid to declare the province under a state of calamity, adding that the fourth district is one of the "hardest hit by the typhoon."
Calara also said total rehabilitation of the dike is needed in order to ensure the safety not only of Candaba residents but nearby towns as well.
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