P490M set to dredge P’panga River and build five bridges

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — At least P490 million will be allotted by President Benigno Simeon S. Aquino III for the immediate dredging of Pampanga Bay and the construction of five bridges in this city and the town of San Simon along San Fernando River.

Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Rogelio Singson said desilting of Pampanga River and Pampanga Bay began Friday.

Singson instructed the DPWH in Region 3 to immediately begin dredging the river tributaries here especially, the Pampanga bay in fourth district.

The Secretary made his order upon the instruction by President Aquino during his visits to the devastated province in Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan, Wednesday.

Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda said that the dredging or desilting project can help prevent widespread flooding in the province and nearby provinces.

“The dredging of City of San Fernando river going to the river tributaries up to third river down to coastal tows of Macabebe and Masantol going to Pampanga Bay, this one of the solution to address the perennial worst flooding here,”the Gov. Pineda explained.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa atingPangulo Aquino sa mabilis na aksyon parabigyan ng solusyon ang problema sa pagbah adit osa Pampanga at sa ibang karatig na probinsiya, at kami naman po dito ay handang sumuporta lagi kay Pangulo lalo na sa mga ganyangp roblema”, the governor said.

Since typhoon “Pedring and Quiel” until Thursday Gov. Pineda along with other local officials continuous the distribution of relief goods to the floods victims especially the fourth district as of now submerged waist to head deep of water.

Meanwhile, several of villages in the towns of Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Mabebe, Masantol and the City of San Fernando still remained flooded, due to heavily silted of Pampanga river and Pampanga bay.

This developed as the Chief Executive on Wednesday made a short visit in Barangay San Felipe where he was briefed by Secretary Singson and DPWH Engineer LitaManalo.
Manalo, in an interview, said the whole river project will cost the national government around P490 million.

She said the dredging of the San Fernando River will start from San Jose Matulid, San Felipe, Pandaras, Mapalad in this city, Pau ,Dalakitan, Dela Costa in San Simon going to third river up to Pampanga Bay.

She also said that the proposed bridges will be constructed in Pandaras, San Jose Matulid, San Felipe, Mapalad, this city and in Barangays Pau and Dela Costa in San Simon town.

Manalo has also briefed the President on the construction of diversion channel or cut-off-channel in Barangay San Felipe.

It can be observed that the San Fernando River is heavily silted and has volume of water hyacinths and became a dumping site of domestic, residential and commercial wastes which go through its various creeks connected to the main river. -- FR