SAN LUIS — Pampanga Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc has raised concerns over the flood-control plan of the Bulacan airport, currently under construction in the coastal areas of Bulakan, Bulacan.
Bondoc issued her statement after several towns in Pampanga and Bulacan experienced severe flooding similar to the incident in 2012 when the Pampanga tail dike was breached.
The congresswoman
raised the possibility that the airport may have contributed to the recent flooding in the two provinces.
Water levels downstream have risen rapidly compared to the past few years, according to the solon.
“Dati sa downriver, mabagal ang pataas ng tubig habang pababa sa upriver. It would take days. Ngayon, sobrang bilis. Sa Sto Tomas daw two hours lang. Meaning? There's another water source downriver. May nangyari kakaiba rito. Climate change lang po ba at ano possible contribution ng Bulacan Airport?,” said Bondoc.
Bondoc said the level of floodwater experienced by the towns in the fourth district was as deep as when the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail dike breached in 2012.
“Kasing laking baha daw ito noong napigtas yoong tail dike in 2012. Wala namang napigtas ngayon at hindi nag-release ang Pantabangan. So saan galing ang extrang tubig?,” she asked.
The solon said the Bulacan airport has an elevation of four meters from the current water level.
“FYI (for your information) lang po, kapag nagtatambak kayo, you displace water. Ang bagong airport ay 2,500 hectares. Tinambakan ng four metersbheight. So ang na-displace na tubig is 100 cubic meters. Saan kaya pumunta yun?,” she said.
Bondoc said the flood-control plan of the new airport must be examined and must secure approval from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Kailangan nating suriin ang flood control plan ng airport. At kailangan pong aprubahan ito ng DPWH. Kaya pag may nangyari, may mapapanagot tayo,” she said.
Bondoc said the extent of flood has affected the major roads of the fourth district of Pampanga including the McArthur Highway, Quezon Road and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
“Hindi po ito problema.ng 4th district o ng Pampanga. Naeembudo po ang tubig sa amin at nag back flow. Dahil sa problema sa NLEX at sa transportasyon, problema na ito ng buong Luzon and possibly ng buong Pilipinas,” she said.
The lawmaker asked for the support of fellow Kapampangans as she vowed to fight for their welfare.
“Nakakatakot pong sabihin ito in public dahil mga malalaking tao ang katapat namin. Kaso, kailangan po nating magsalita. At kailangan nating kumilos. Tulungan ninyo po ako,” she said.