SEVERAL flood control projects amounting to some P1 billion are lined up in the town of San Simon as part of the goal to minimize flooding and its devastating effects on the community.
Fourth District Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc bared the projects that are set for implementation in the 14 barangays of San Simon by the Department of Public Works and Highways this year.
This includes the rehabilitation of Pampanga Riverbank protection, which portions have already collapsed, and the reinforcement of parts that remained intact to ensure the safety of the community alongside it.
“We have already poured in over P200-million for this portion of Barangay San Pedro alone, but is still visibly not enough so we are allocating more funds to rehabilitate the collapsed portion and strengthen the protection in the elbow-like area which is prone to huge surges,” Bondoc said.
He added that rehabilitation and reinforcement works, as well as construction of slope protection, will also stretch to the riverbanks of Barangays San Jose, Sta. Cruz, and San Juan here.
Bondoc also disclosed the upgrading and rehabilitation of major and secondary roads including the MacArthur Highway to address the flooding and deterioration problems faced by motorists.
He disclosed that some P25 million will be allocated for the upgrading of the town’s major thoroughfares, while separate funds will be downloaded for the municipal and barangay roads, including the low-lying area of San Simon Central Elementary School.
“We will be upgrading the roads to at least one meter in height to finally address the flooding problems in our major and secondary thoroughfares, and make it accessible, even and especially during times of calamity,” Bondoc said.
Bondoc assured that all projects in the pipeline will be implemented before the year ends, and some can already be utilized during the coming rainy season.
“We are positive that the public works will be able to deliver all these projects before the year ends, especially that they have seen the urgency to construct protection for the coastal communities,” he said.