Metro flood control budget covers Pampanga

This refers to the news article, “No funds for flood control in Pampanga River Basin” (Across the Nation, 6/19/13).

Central Luzon, including Pampanga, is part of the Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas. The plan is a result of a flood risk assessment study undertaken from February 2011 to February 2012 for Metro Manila and surrounding basin areas.

The government has allocated an initial amount of P5 billion to finance high-impact flood control projects under the plan. These include projects in Pampanga, namely: San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail dike (P139 million); mitigation measures for breaches in the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail dike (P637 million); and Del Carmen-Balimbing Creek in San Fernando (P30 million). Another P43.5 million has been set aside for the operation and maintenance of the dredging equipment for the Pasac-Delta waterway, Guagua, and Sasmuan—for a total allocation of P849.5 million.

The mitigation measures for breaches in the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail dike will be implemented in two stages: (1) the repair of a transverse dike, the repair/restoration of Spillway No. 1 and No. 3, and the restoration of the Pasig-Potrero east dike; and (2) the diversion channel from Spillway No. 3 to Spillway No. 1 and the construction of a new 100-meter bridge across the diversion channel and approach road. Priority emergency works are now being undertaken and the detailed engineering design for this project is on the drawing board.

The extension of the rehabilitation of the Del Carmen-Balimbing Creek in San Fernando, started in December 2012 and is 75 percent complete as of this writing.

The dredgers will be deployed after the procurement process for fuel and lubricants shall have been completed.

In addition, the World Bank is now in the process of procuring consultancy services for the preparation of a master plan for flood management in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, with special emphasis on the deltaic areas of the Pampanga River Basin. The Korea-Economic Development Cooperation is funding the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation measures in the low-lying areas of Pampanga. The loan agreement was scheduled for signing on July 10, 2013.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is likewise currently implementing the P5.259-billion Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project Phase 3 which is aimed at protecting life and minimizing  damage to properties from perennial flooding; reducing flood level and flooding duration in San Fernando, Lubao, Guagua, Sasmuan, Bacolor and other adjacent towns; improving the drainage efficiency of the river channel network in the Pasac Delta including the Porac-Gumain river, etc.

Finally, the above-mentioned projects are in addition to the flood control and drainage structures being implemented by DPWH

Region 3 and its district engineering offices under the Regular Infrastructure Program.

—ELIZABETH P. PILORIN, chief,

Public Information Division,

Department of Public Works

and Highways