Newly elevated roads prevent Dagupan major flooding
THE road and drainage elevation projects in Dagupan City undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) again proved their worth during the recent three days of monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Enteng.
“Salamat sa DPWH for building all these road elevation projects. Unlike before, wala nang baha sa mga lugar na ito” said Mayor Belen Fernandez following an inspection of Arellano Street, A.B. Fernandez Avenue, M. H. Del Pilar Street and Perez Boulevard.
Prior to the elevation and drainage works, all these roads leading to the central business district of Dagupan were always under water after a few days of monsoon rains.
However, the high tide still caused flooding along Burgos Street up to the corner of Perez Boulevard in front of YMCA and Union Bank.
This flood-prone road junction of Burgos Street and Perez Boulevard and in front of Nazareth General Hospital is next to be elevated by the DPWH, with plans for the construction phase already in place.
Meanwhile, the mayor said the flooding along Jovellanos Street beside the Saint John the Evangelist Cathedral will continue unless the seven opposition councilors in the Sangguniang Panlungsod pass Supplemental Budget No. 2, which continues to remain pending since 2022 before the budget and finance committee.
Once Jovellanos Street is elevated, high tide will no longer overflow into the cathedral premises, Fernandez added.
She said that in her previous term as mayor, she already set aside a budget for the construction of a cobbled road beside the cathedral but when she left office, the appropriation was diverted to another project.
When she was elected back into office in 2022, she included the reconstruction of Jovellanos Street in Supplemental Budget No. 1 of 2022, but was turned down by the council’s majority.
The appropriation was again rejected thrice by the majority under proposed supplemental budgets in 2023 and this year.
The DPWH through Regional Director Ronnel Tan agreed to rehabilitate some silted creeks in Dagupan to help minimize flooding. In those areas. (Leonardo Micua)
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