The provincial government of Bulacan has started dredging rivers and creeks to mitigate flooding, especially during this rainy season.
Gov. Daniel R. Fernando said on Monday that while dredging the rivers is not the permanent solution to flooding in the province, he said that it is a crucial component to prevent extensive flooding in Bulacan.
“Paglalagay talaga ng dike ang permanenteng solusyon sa pagbaha. Pero pansamantala, habang hindi pa ito nasisimulan, ito muna ang ating ginagawa para maibsan ang paghihirap ng mga tao (The putting up of dike is really the permanent solution to flooding. But temporarily, while the construction of the dike has not yet been started, this is what we are doing to ease the hardship of the people),” the governor said in a social media post.
The ongoing dredging projects in the province are at Balite Creek in and Apulid Creek in the City of Malolos, the Sapang Bangkal in Barangay San Isidro, Hagonoy and the Hagonoy River in Barangay San Agustin of the same town.
The provincial government, in partnership with the office of Bulacan First District Rep. Danilo Domingo, also has ongoing dredging projects in barangays Bulihan, Barihan, Santissima Trinidad, and Mojon, all in the City of Malolos.
Fernando likewise said he has met with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who have committed to building dikes, pumping stations, and flood gates, and elevating river walls in the province.
He also said the Provincial Engineer’s Office will procure at least four additional backhoe dredgers by the end of the year.
Aside from this, the governor said he is also soliciting support in terms of providing additional equipment from private companies to address the province’s long battle with floods.
Meanwhile, Fernando called on the Bulakenyos to take their part in protecting the environment by not throwing waste on bodies of water.
“Itong lahat ng ginagawa natin ngayon ay mawawalan ng saysay kung patuloy pa rin po nating sisirain ang ating kapaligiran. Tayo po sa pamahalaan ay ginagawa ang lahat ng pamamaraan upang matulungan ang ating kababayan. Kayo naman pong ating mga kalalawigan, gawin rin po natin ang ating parte upang mapigil ang lubos na pagkasira ng ating kalikasan (All things that we are doing will be futile if we continuously destroy our surroundings. We, in the government, are doing all ways to help our province mates. Thus, to all our province mates, let us do our part to prevent the total destruction of our environment),” he added. (PNA)
