DREDGING OPS. Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways inspect the ongoing dredging operations in the towns of San Simon and Sto. Tomas in Pampanga in this undated photo. The dredging activities are being undertaken as an immediate measure to mitigate flooding in the province. (Photo courtesy of DPWH Region 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Public Works and Highways-Central Luzon (DPWH-3) is conducting dredging operations in the heavily silted river channels in a bid to mitigate flooding in this province.
DPWH-3 Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said on Thursday the agency’s Regional Equipment Management Division (EMD) is doing the dredging works in three locations in the towns of San Simon and Sto. Tomas.
Tolentino said the EMD has deployed a K9-01 vegetation dredge in Barangay Sta. Monica in San Simon; a K4-24 amphibious excavator in Tulaoc River, also in San Simon; and a K3-15 multi-purpose amphibious dredge in Barangay Federosa in Sto. Tomas to clear waterways of accumulated silt and debris to ease flooding during heavy rains.
“The dredging activities in Pampanga are part of DPWH's efforts to mitigate flooding, prompted by a recent flooding incident at the San Simon Section of the North Luzon Expressway where water from the Pampanga River flowed into the expressway, particularly under Tulaoc Bridge,” he said in a statement.
Aside from this province, Tolentino said there are also ongoing dredging activities in Hagonoy, Bulacan.
“The Bureau of Equipment will be deploying additional dredge equipment to support EMD’s operations in desilting the Hagonoy River,” he added.
Governor Dennis Pineda said the dredging operation is an immediate solution to flooding in the province while awaiting support from the national government.
Last Aug. 7, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with the provincial officials to discuss short, medium and long-term solutions that could help solve the massive flooding experienced by the province due to the onslaught of Typhoons Egay and Falcon, and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
A total of 232 villages in 15 towns of the province were severely affected as floods displaced some 144,340 families or 512,722 individuals. Agricultural damage amounted to some PHP315 million. (PNA)
