City to create Anti-Flooding Task force

By August 13, 2018Headlines, News

TO STUDY, RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS

THE Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod agreed in principle to create a special Anti-Flooding Task Force that will study the causes of the recurring flood in Dagupan and recommend short and long term solutions to the problem.

The creation of the task force was proposed by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo during a committee hearing last week that discussed his draft resolution asking Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to fast track the construction of a strong dike along the Sinocalan River and the dredging of the shallow Pantal and Calmay rivers up to the latter’s mouth where a delta already formed.

Councilors Jeslito Seen, Alvin Coquia, Marvin Fabia, Nicanor Aquino and Dean Bryan Kua who joined him in the committee hearing expressed support for its creation.

The Anti-Flooding Task Force will be headed by Mayor Belen Fernandez as chairman with City Engr. Virginia Rosario as vice chairman, and chairmen of the committee on engineering and public works in the SP as regular members.

Others named as members are the departments heads in the city government, representatives of the 2nd Pangasinan Engineering District, the 4th Pangasinan Engineering District, representatives of the private sector, particularly those in business and agriculture and fisheries.

Tamayo said since the source of the floodwater is upstream from Sta. Barbara and Calasiao and ends in Dagupan City as catch basin, it was suggested that the Task force shall include members of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) chapters in Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Binmaley and Mangaldan.

Councilor Coquia told THE PUNCH there may be a need to hold a joint session with municipal councils of the four towns since flooding often affects all at the same time and the situation may require a common short and long term solutions.

Second Pangasinan District Engineer Edita Manuel clarified that the widespread flood that recently hit Dagupan was beyond their control because the dike that was washed out in Barangay Alibago, Sta. Barbara is not under her jurisdiction but with the Fourth Pangasinan Engineering District.

She said all dikes in Dagupan City, specially along the Pantal River withstood the big volume of water from upstream and not a single one was damaged.

She also pointed to the frequent daily high tide that often lasts for three hours each day, she said, as one of the reasons for the widespread flood in the city.

Tamayo said the anti-flooding task force, with the support of the municipal councils of Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Binmaley and possibly including the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will lobby support from DPWH Sec. Villar and President Duterte for the inclusion of a sturdier and higher flood control dikes in Pangasinan under the government’s Build, Build, Build projects costing multi billion pesos.

Last Thursday, Bernard Cabison, assistant City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer told the KBP Forum that the dike in Barangay Gabon, Calasiao also collapsed and aggravated the situation for Dagupan.

Meanwhile, barangay chairmen recommended continuous dredging of the Pantal River because of large volume of silt that already accumulated, specifically at the back of the Pantal Barangay Hall.

Barangay Chairman Julie Perez of Pantal estimated the silt to be already one-meter-high and added that the elevation of the Pantal road was timely otherwise the damage to the village would have been far worse.

Tamayo said the SP will also recommend to Mayor Fernandez to buy a new Vachtron machine that will siphon flood waters that accumulate in schools and communities.

Councilor Jesllto Seen asked the SP to lobby for the resumption of the construction of Phase 3 of the Agno River Flood Control Project which was shelved by the Aquino administration.

Another approved project is the Allied Agno Flood Control Project that needs to be reactivated to divert the flow of water from the Sinocalan River.

Seen also asked the city government to hire expert hydrologist to study and recommend flood-free areas where structures in Dagupan can and should be built.

Meanwhile, Gaudencio de Vera, provincial manager of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), said since it is rainy season there is no need for NIA to open its gate and irrigate the farms.

Seen pointed out that since the proposed mega projects cost billions of pesos to build and cannot be built overnight, he asked the to SP make funds available for dredging of rivers. (Leonardo Micua)

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