DAGUPAN CITY – The flooding in Pangasinan will continue until the damaged earth dikes in San Manuel, Binalonan, Urdaneta and Sta. Barbara are repaired.

This was the observation of Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director Fidel Ginez who indicated that his office cannot start to work on the needed repairs until Phase 3 of the Agno and Allied Rivers Urgent Rehabilitation Projects is completed, which will not be anytime soon

Work on the Phase 2 of AARURP is still ongoing and is not expected to be completed until 2008. In addition, at least P2 billion will be needed to implement Phase 3 and sourcing for it has not been fully identified.

Ginez also pointed out that there is still no funding available for the dikes’ repairs.

Ginez also recommended the continuous dredging of the Agno River to increase its carrying capacity to help forestall flooding. 

But Ginez said operations of the dredging machines also had to be stopped because of its high costs of maintenance and not enough funds have been allocated for it. 

Upon completion of Phase 3 project, he said more excess water from the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam could be diverted to Umingan and other parts of eastern Pangasinan for irrigation purposes.

Ginez, also head of the Agno Flood Control Project, said Phase 3 of AARURP is still   the 5th priority project of the Arroyo administration, next to Pampanga, Iloilo, Cagayan and Laoag City.—A.P.E.

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