THERE is no end in sight.

Assistant City Engineer Marcelo Prado, speaking before members of the city council on Tuesday, made this assessment on the perennial flooding in Dagupan, citing nature as the main culprit to the problem.

“The rise and fall of tide are caused by nature and we can not do anything about it,” Prado said.

Parts of downtown Dagupan, including the city hall itself, has been getting flooded following high tide even with minimal or no rainfall.

Tidal water is now a bane among grocery and department stores in downtown area and several residential subdivisions, like Dior Village and others.

Store owners are seen pumping out water from their shops almost every morning when the tidal rise is at its peak.

Prado observed that the effect of high tide became more intense just after the July 16, 1990 killer earthquake during which Dagupan City, which originally is already one meter below sea level, sank by a few additional centimeters.

RAISE THE ROADS

Prado suggests an upgrading of the level of the roads in the city by 50 to 80 centimeters if Dagupan were to attract new investors and tourists.

The city councilors raised serious concern about raising the roads would further since it would result in flooding of more residential areas and commercial centers situated in lower areas.

Prado conceded that this was the problem during the reconstruction period in Dagupan months following the quake when they suggested the upgrading of the road by 70 centimeters.

Owners of stores whose properties are located in much lower elevation strongly opposed the plan.

Prado also pointed out that other flooding is also caused by prolonged rains and the flow of big volumes of water from the upland through the Sinocalan River.

Councilor Karlos Reyna, chairman of the infrastructure committee, thanked Prado for the facts and figures about the flood in Dagupan that could serve as basis for future planning. He earlier expressed optimism that the flooding can be prevented.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez has directed the city engineering office to submit reports of accomplishment by the city’s dredging machine.

Fernandez issued the order to determine the rate of utilization of the dredging machine, bought at P40 million by the past city administration. #

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