LINGAYEN–The provincial government decided it should have its own dredging machine and has encouraged towns and cities to buy their own rubber boats in order to raise their level of preparedness for floods.

Governor Amado Espino Jr., in his Lingguhang Talakayan sa Kapitolyo on Monday, said the province has to acquire its own dredging machine to dredge the now shallow rivers and ensure faster flow of floodwaters to the sea.

He said he will not allow a disaster in the magnitude similar to what had occurred in Metro Manila last week in the wake of Typhoon “Ondoy”, by not doing anything.

“I doubt it very much if the disaster that struck Metro Manila and the adjacent provinces will happen to us here but if it will, it is better that we are prepared,” said Espino.

He said the province must dredge many of its rivers, because these are already clogged by silt coming from upland.

Espino said his program “Save the Lingayen Gulf, Save Our Rivers” aims to clean all silted rivers leading to the sea to ensure faster outflow of run off water from adjacent communities and upstream.

The dredging machine is expected to help improve the quality of water   that will enhance aqua-culture, a major industry in the coastal areas of the Lingayen Gulf, particularly Bolinao. Bani, Anda, Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan and San Fabian.

Pangasinan, Espino said, is still luckier than Metro Manila because it has many rivers, creeks and streams that are relatively cleaner than those in Metro Manila.

“We must prepare now and not just wait for disaster to happen” Espino said.

Last Thursday, Paterno Orduna, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council  (PDCC), echoed the governor’s call and asked towns and cities to set aside part of their calamity fund to buy their own rubber boats for their use in times of flood.

Mayors Ricardo Revita of Rosales and John Rodney Arcinue of Sual were among the first to welcome the suggestion.

An inventory of the PDCC showed that the province has only two rubber boats. Dagupan has two.

Orduna advised towns who may not be able to buy rubber boats to prepare bamboo rafts instead. LM

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