Dagupan starts work, talks on flood mitigation measures
AFTER 18 DAYS
THE Dagupan City government began working with various agencies on flood mitigation activities in heavily flooded parts of the city.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has began clearing and declogging silted esteros and drainage systems on Cuison Road in Barangay Tapuac.
The first to be cleared was the creek connecting Calarin, Krystaville Subdivisions and Greenfields where the water has overflowed, and caused floodwaters from drainage canals to remain stagnant.
City Engineer Virgina V. Rosario said clean up drives in drainage systems had to be started after heavy rains and waters from upstream and different areas brought silt as well as trash that clogged the city’s waterways.
“Even our rivers, including the mouth of the rivers, have constricted because they are silted,” added Rosario.
Meanwhile, the city government has initiated talks with DPWH, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Dagupan, to help determine the causes of the recent flooding and the necessary countermeasures to be taken.
Both short-term and long-term solutions for the flooding were studied during the meeting, including the continuous upgrading of roads and drainages, rehabilitation of creeks and waterways, establishment of pumping stations and floodgates, reinforcement of dikes in the city and many others.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez disclosed her plans to elevate most, if not all roads, including drainage systems and areas to help mitigate extreme flooding.
The local government is also set to organize a roundtable discussion with the business sector and barangay officials regarding their concerns and recommendations
The series of initiatives were launched after the city, a catch basin for water from upstream, was hit by an unprecedented extended period of extreme flooding for more than 18 days caused by high tide, heavy monsoon rains and floodwaters coming from upstream and other areas that submerged most parts of the city. (With report from CIO/VDV)
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