CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Representative Oscar Rodriguez bared some of his plans to mitigate the flooding in Pampanga's third district.
In an exclusive interview with Sun.Star Pampanga, Rodriguez said that the government has funded some major flood-prevention projects in the province.
One of the projects in the 2016 line-up is the massive rehabilitation of the Cupang Dike in Arayat town, which was damaged after the onslaught of typhoon "Nona".
According to Rodriguez, the dike must be rehabilitated to prevent water from spilling to the Pampanga River which can cause major flooding in the City of San Fernando.
In Barangay San Mateo of the said town, which considered the approach of Pampanga River, a slope protection will be installed to prevent soil erosion in riverbanks.
A bypass in Barangay Candating is also eyed to divert the flow of water in the area which damaged some of the village's thoroughfares.
Rodriguez furthered that a total rehabilitation in the municipality of Bacolor will also be done this year including installation of slope protection, rehabilitation of roads and waterways.
Elevation of roads in the former place of Don Bosco will also be done as preparation for the institution's planned comeback.
Construction of necessary infrastructures to prevent the tail dike catastrophe a few years ago is halfway done, he said. Rodriguez said that they are avoiding the breaching which caused not only flooding but also lahar embankment.
"We have elevated the transverse dike to catch the lahar and only let water flow to the downstream," Rodriguez explained.
"When everything is settled, it will be up time for Bacolor people to come back to their hometown," Rodriguez added.
Rodriguez furthered that necessary projects in Santa Ana and Mexico towns are already done such as slope protection of river channels including the Inumang Baka and Abacan River.
The Pasig-Potrero River ang Gugu creek are already fully rehabilitated and ready to absorb water from the north, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said that he wants to replicate the province's capital situation which has not experienced flooding for several years.
Meanwhile, the congressman reiterated his advocacy to continue the Pampanga Delta Anti-Flooding Component which he said is the "most effective way to mitigate flooding" in the province.
According to him, he has urged authorities including Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Babes Singson to pursue the original flood-mitigation plan.
As stipulated in the original plan, the Pampanga River will be widened from Calumpit, Bulacan downstream. However, when Bulakenyos felt they were affected, they stopped the widening, said Rodriguez.
"If all of these will be pursued, Pampanga, particularly the third district, will be safe from flooding," he stressed.