PHASE III SUSPENDED

LINGAYEN–The completion of the Agno River Flood Control Project faces the possibility of being delayed interminably after the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has reportedly pulled out as funding source for the project’s Phase III.

Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani, in a privilege speech last Friday before the provincial board, said officials of the National Economic and Development Authority have informed him that JICA has backed out as one of the major sources of funding for the last phase of the project.

Shahani said he is not certain why JICA lost its interest in funding Phase III but suspects the deep frustration of JICA was a direct result of seeming disinterest of the officials in the project and the constant revisions of plans by the Department of Public Works and Highways in the remaining work.

“Mukhang napabayaan ang proyekto,” Sahani said.

Nonetheless, Shahani expressed optimism that Phase III will not suffer serious delay as President Benigno Aquino III is now trying to seek alternative funding sources from Spain, Finland, China and Korea.

USELESS

Without Phase III of the project, the Agno project’s first two phases would prove useless.

And without the Agno River Flood Control Project, Pangasinan will always be under threat of a big flood as demonstrated by the deluge last year at the height of Typhoon Pepeng.

The Agno Flood Control Project, which was launched during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, is a multi-billion project starting at the mouth of the Agno River in Lingayen leading up to San Manuel and San Nicolas where the San Roque Multi-purpose Dam is located.

Phase 1 of the project from Lingayen to Bayambang is now completed while Phase II from Bayambang to Alcala is now almost complete except for some unfinished projects in some segments in Alcala.

Both Phases I and II were funded by the Japanese government through JICA.

Phase III will start from Sto. Tomas to San Manuel.

Shahani said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has invited officials of the DPWH flood control office in Manila during a council session in early November to report on the status of the flood control project.

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