THE elevation of roads and provision of bigger and wider drainage systems are the best options left for flood-prone Dagupan City.

This was the reaction of Mayor Belen Fernandez in defense of the ongoing projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways on Arellano Street and A.B. Fernandez Avenue, after public consultation conducted by the seven majority councilors in the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday urging the filing of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the projects.

In an interview by newsmen on Wednesday, Fernandez said the construction of a 1.5 meter high drainage system on both sides of Arellano and A.B. Fernandez Avenue, was the product of an exhaustive study by the DPWH to reduce, if not end flooding in Dagupan City as she debunked claims of the SP majority that a TRO case can be filed against the projects.

Fernandez said the legal officer of the DPWH cited Presidential Decree No, 1818 that prohibits the filing of TRO or a case of preliminary injunction against national government projects.

Meanwhile, she said DPWH has its own data after it conducted its own survey in Dagupan that pointed to established maximum height of the flood in the city caused by days of heavy rains during a monthly high tide.

Contrary to the claims of the participants in the public consultation conducted by the majority in the SP, business owners and residents from Jollibee Junction to Nepo Mall and from Nepo Mall to Dawel, as well from Jollibee Junction to Tambac have been invited to public consultations.

DPWH is now also preparing for projects from Jollibee Junction to Mercury Drug at Junction Perez Boulevard and the flood-prone junction of Perez Boulevard, Burgos Street and the Tapuac-Lucao Road and for which public consultations were also held.

Fernandez said the past Flood Mitigation Commission relied heavily on the pumping out of flood water and the past administration did turn over a claimed 10-Year Plan.

“Wala pong iniwan na plano ang past city administration,” she told newsmen.

The plan of the past FMC, according to the majority in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, not only involves the construction of various pumping stations but also sheet piling of river banks and construction of flood gates.

“The past FMC’s announced timetable was to mitigate flooding in Dagupan in 10 years but would it not be better if we can shorten it into just five years or less”, said Fernandez who believes it is DPWH’s recommendation to elevate the roads and install bigger and wider drainage system that can save Dagupan from floods, adding that sheet piling, through the help of Congressman Christopher de Venecia is being done too although 70 percent of the river banks have yet to be installed their respective sheet files.

Fernandez said she just formed a new FMC to replace the old and will conduct its own public consultation on July 28.

Meanwhile, the mayor twitted Councilor Marilou Fernandez of the majority for asking why Herrero-Perez road was not elevated. She said the budget for the elevation of the road was among those deleted by the seven-man majority that she belongs to.  (Leonardo Micua)

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