CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The local government units of San Fernando and Sto. Tomas, together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the private sector are set to conduct a massive anti-flood drive before the rainy season sets in.
The project was disclosed by San Fernando City Mayor Edwin Santiago, Sto. Tomas Mayor John Sambo, volunteer flood czar Engineer Marni Castro and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. Chairman Emeritus Levy Laus, after an aerial inspection of high-risk areas in the province, particularly clogged and silted waterways traversing central, southern and western Pampanga.
“We inspected all major waterways starting from Del Carmen Creek, Mapalad Creek, San Felipe Creek to San Fernando River as this is the major channel where water flows. San Fernando River should always be free, without siltation and not clogged as it is the convergence point of floodwaters before it flows down to southern Pampanga via the waterways of Sto. Tomas town,” Santiago said.
“That is why, this early, we have coordinated with Congressman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the local government units of Sasmuan, Bacolor and all concerned as we foresee a greater volume of rain coming. Kailangan na itong paghandaan so as not to paralyze the economy of the region,” he said, adding that the city government has a backhoe on barge on standby to clear water hyacinths and vegetation immediately, aside from an amphibious excavator which will be made available by Mrs. Arroyo courtesy of the DPWH.
Sambo said that the main river in Sto. Tomas where water from San Fernando flows is already being desilted, after an islet there formed.
“We are already desilting it. I have already asked for the assistance of the city government of San Fernando and DPWH and augment us in terms of equipment. It is important that progress not be hindered by flooding. Everything is being done now with what we have and what volunteers extend us and we are glad about this,” he said.
Sambo also proposed the construction of a transverse dike at the Third River, and the provision of a check gate at the San Fernando-Sto. Minalin Taildike in Barangay San Vicente to further boost anti-flood interventions.
Castro stressed that the factories being constructed along the North Luzon Expressway in San Simon town should retain waterways. “They should retain waterways. We saw during the inspection that some of the waterways have already been closed because investors already traversed the waterways. I think the government should check that.”
“Also, we are proposing to construct a transverse dike at the ‘Y’ junction of Federosa River, San Fernando-Mapalad Creek and Abacan River in order to control and minimize siltation to allow for the free flow of water in these channels and avert flooding,” he added.
Vigilance, according to Castro, will be the operating term in the anti-flood drive which will be kicked-off with a flood summit on Wednesday, May 17 at the Mitsubishi Carworld training center in this city.
“All stakeholders, not only businessmen, must be vigilant. They should be aware of the problem because Pampanga is, I am not saying it is a catch basin, but the elevation of San Fernando, Sto. Tomas, Minalin, Sasmuan, to include Macabebe, Apalit, Masantol and have become really low and it is imperative their waterways are prepared. We should be vigilant, otherwise, the next generation will suffer,” concluded Castro. (JTD)