STO. TOMAS -- Mayor Gloria Ronquillo blamed Wednesday, August 14, the recent quarrying activity inside the Santo Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike for the minor breached portion that had brought in considerable floodwaters last week.
But Ronquillo assured residents that repairs are now being undertaken in the said portion of the dike, which has been scoured by floodwater.
She said she had talked with the contractor of the dike project to fix the breach and provide immediate solution to the problem.
Initial reports stated that the breached portion is being fixed.
Ronquillo said permanent engineering works should be undertaken to provide a lasting solution to the threat of flooding from the tail dike in case of breach or overflow.
"For one, we will no longer allow quarrying in that area of the tail dike," Ronquillo said.
The 10-kilometer tail dike is the town's last defense against floodwaters that descend from Pampanga's western towns during the rainy season. Any breach or overflow from the dike system can easily flood at least five of the seven barangays in this town, including Moras dela Paz, San Matias, Sto. Niño, Poblacion and Pau.
The last major breach in the dike occurred in 2013 when a strong monsoon damaged a portion of the structure and displaced thousands of families. The Capitol then placed Pampanga under a state of calamity after the damage to property and crops rose to more than P40 million.