PORAC -- The overall head of the quarry operations in Pampanga is calling for the extraction of sand along the upper portion of the Pasig-Potrero River in Porac town to protect the SCTEX Bridge here from possible scouring.
Overall Quarry Operations head Romeo Dungca and his team inspected the area under the quarry permitee Sanbar to address the need to extract and haul the vast sand deposits in the area that may erode and damage the said bridge during the rainy season.
Dungca said the Department of Public Works and Highways has already constructed engineering works to re-channel the flow of the river and the elevated sand deposits in the area of Sanbar is what now stands in the way.
"We need to remove all of this to re-channel the flow of the river. The worst case scenario is if we do not do anything, the coming rainy season will do more damage to this structure," Dungca added.
Dungca said he had talked with the Porac Truckers Association to help in the removal of the sand deposits that also include large rocks and boulders that can cascade through flood waters and damage structures.
Dungca said the operation may last some two months.
The removal of the sand deposits have been the recommendation of the multi-tripartite team composed of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Provincial Government of Pampanga, Municipal Government of Porac, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
The removal of the sand deposits will be made possible through a special permit to extract and haul.