Friday, March 07, 2008 Creek threatens Jasa bridge
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A small creek near the former Paskuhan Village in Barangay San Jose here is endangering an all important bridge of Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa), the main inter-provincial highway in this city.
In an ocular inspection early this week, city engineers found out that the Del Carmen creek, a roughly 15-meter wide body of water that runs several meters from the Paskuhan Village, is threatening the foundations and slope protection of a 30-meter bridge near the San Fernando Exit of North Luzon Expressway (Nlex).
The engineers, led by Efren de Leon, discovered that a nearby box culvert, about 15 meters upstream, had been clogged with garbage causing the creek's current to flood out of the embankment towards both approaches of the bridge.
De Leon said the three-barrel type culvert is the sole conduit of the Del Carmen Creek before snaking through the city and into the San Fernando River. It siphons about 40 percent of flood that the city absorbs.
Early this week strong rains battered the northern part of the province, including Angeles City where most of the water flowing down the creek comes from.
At the height of the rain, water in the creek flowed out of the embankment since it could not penetrate the culvert that are by then plugged with tons of garbage and other debris.
Barangay chairman Loreto Tumang said during their inspection, they noted the probable damages that the culvert poses to nearby structures and communities.
Tumang said the barangay officials are seeking the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to demolish the culvert, which "causes more harm than good."
If the condition of the culvert would not be corrected in time, he said, even lives of those using the Jasa Bridge or of the communities living along the creek's downstream will be endangered.
Tumang said they suggest that the culvert be totally demolished as it impedes the flow of water from the creek.
The city engineers said only the DPWH could demolish the culvert since it is owned by the National Government. (ABL)
