CITY OF MALOLOS — Governor Daniel R. Fernando has directed concerned national government agencies and local government units to act on the causes of persistent flooding in five Bulacan areas during a coordination meeting held at The Capitol Hostel in this city on Thursday (Sept. 3).
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Head Manuel M. Lukban, Jr. presented that flooding in Brgys. Longos and Bulihan in the City of Malolos, Malis in Guiguinto, Panginay in Balagtas, Masuso in Pandi, and Saluysoy in the City of Meycauayan are not due to high tide but because of the obstruction of natural waterways by trees and vegetation, encroachment of informal settlers and other structures, heavily silted rivers and creeks, improper garbage disposal, and obstructed, damaged, or low-positioned culverts.
Other factors identified were the absence or gaps in existing dikes and river walls, inadequate or sub-standard water pumps, narrow floodways, and unmaintained floodgates.
The five barangays were identified as the initial areas for assessment, with the PDRRMO set to conduct a series of studies and assessments in other flood-prone barangays across the province to determine their specific causes of flooding and identify appropriate mitigation measures.
Fernando ordered the provincial officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways to check if flood mitigation projects in the five identified areas are included in the agencies’ approved and budgeted General Appropriations Act.
He likewise directed the National Irrigation Administration to ensure that bodies of water under its jurisdiction remain free from obstructions that may impede the natural flow of water; while he instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to guarantee that barangay officials are practicing proper garbage disposal in their respective communities.
“Hopefully, itong pagmi-meeting na ito ay matugunan natin ang mga problema sa baha. Magtulung-tulong po tayo, magsama-sama tayo. Huwag tayo magturuan kung sino ang gagawa. Gawin po natin ang ating magagawa alang-alang sa ating mga kapwa Bulakenyo,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, on the part of the Provincial Government of Bulacan, Fernando shared that PGB is planning to procure backhoes on barge, vacuum jetting trucks, and mobile pump through the Quick Response Fund.
He also committed that PGB offices will work closely with their national government agency counterparts to pursue both immediate and long-term measures to mitigate flooding in the province. (UnliNews Online)
