Ex-District Engr: Narrow Pantal River causes flooding in Dagupan
THE narrow and silted river Pantal-Sinocalan River is one of the main causes of severe flooding in Dagupan City.
This was the observation shared by Engr. Rodolfo Dion, a former top official of the second Pangasinan Engineering District, during the resumption of public consultation by the committees on public works and infrastructure, and on Transportation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday.
He said the river is already too narrow and heavily silted that it can no longer accommodate the big volume of water being discharged from upstream, inevitably resulting in severe flooding in Dagupan City during prolonged heavy rains.
He added that conversion of vast tracts of agricultural lands such as rice fields and fishponds into sites of commercial establishments like hospitals, malls, housing subdivisions and others like in other places are suddenly experiencing severe flooding.
“Ang Pantal-Sinocalan River ay masyado nang masikip,” Dion intoned, noting some business establishments, including residential houses, already illegally encroached into the river over the years.
According to Dion, the whole length of the Magsaysay Bridge on Perez Boulevard is the actual width of the Pantal-Sinocalan River but today, because of encroachments, the passageway of water was reduced by more than one half.
Dion pointed out that with the narrow width of the river from Magsaysay Bridge in Dagupan to Ramos Bridge in adjacent Calasiao, floodwater easily overflows towards Lasip Grande, Lasip Chico, Malued, Caranglaan and Mayombo.
He added that in order to minimize flooding in Dagupan, the full width of the river must be restored, adding that because of the constriction of the river, floodwaters flow slowly, so the flood subsides after few days, Dion added.
His office built two floodgates in 2018, one near Nepo Mall and the other near Eternal Gardens, but lamented that no one is maintaining these and are not used: Floodgates must be closed during high tide and opened during low tide.
In a previous session of the SP, both floodgates were criticized as useless because of their wrong location.
Dion was critical of the ongoing elevation of Arellano Street, saying this is a big mistake and will create a “big problem” to commercial and residential establishments, schools and a hospital in the area, contrary to the study presented on July 18 by officials of DPWH Region 1 who said elevation of the road by at least 1.5 meters, is necessary due to the level of water of the Pantal River during high tide and climate change. (Leonardo Micua)
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