THE Chinese government, through its ambassador to the Philippines, has pledged to finance a feasibility study for the construction of a pipeline system that will serve as a flood control and water supply structure for the rampaging waters from the mountains of San Roque Dam in San Manuel.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. told local newsmen last week that Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Li Jun Jin made the commitment during a weekend tour of Pangasinan.

“All we have to do is build a pipeline and by gravity, bring the water downwards to the central plains of Pangasinan,” de Venecia explained the proposed project.

“Imagine, from the destructiveness of these waters, to a flood control system, and finally the conversion of this water for our drinking water use,” he added.

Research center

The ambassador has also proposed to establish a China-Philippines research and development center at the sprawling Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) research center in Bonuan Binloc, which he visited.

The Chinese official was reportedly impressed by the successful Pacific white shrimp culture there, as well as tilapia, bangus, siganid, seabass, lapu-lapu among others.

Speaker de Venecia also described the upgrading of 200,000 hectares of fishponds throughout the Philippines, including Pangasinan that is seen to benefit some 300,000 to 500,000 families.

The upgrade is expected to increase the production and revenue of fish farmers by at least 300%. Cement plant

In a related development, de Venecia said the Chinese ambassador has also agreed to put up a cement plant in western Pangasinan.

The ambassador said his government’s project should help reduce cement prices in the country currently pegged at P180 per bag compared with only P80 in China. — EVA

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