Thousands remain threaten due to poor flood control projects

ARAYAT – Typhoon Labuyo had left the Philippine area of responsibility but still thousands of residents in the coastal barangays in the eight municipalities in the fourth district are remained threatened by unprecedented flooding due to poor flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

 

In Arayat town, the residents could not rely on the strength of the Guemasan and Cupang Dikes

despite millions of pesos spent by the national government through the public works.

 

Some portions of the dikes manifested weak foundation as the same collapsed several times in the past despite the engineering intervention applied.

 

Residents also cited the P25 million cut-off channel implemented by DPWH in Pampanga River along the portion of Barangay Guemasan as another wasted project which according to them failed to achieve its purpose.

 

The cut-off channel was made primarily designed  to reduce the volume of water coming from the upstream. 

 

Other residents living in the towns of  Sta. Ana, Mexico, Sto. Tomas, Mexico, Sto. Tomas and  City of San Fernando are likewise in danger should the dike leaks and sustains another damage with the heavy downpour.

 

In Candaba Town, the portion of the Arnedo Dike in Barangay Mandasig is currently collapsing and the residents were left “at the mercy of nature.”

 

More than P500-million was spent by the national government but still the dike is in the “sorry state.”

 

Recently, before the rainy season started the constructor was cited working on the area installing metal sheets but left the project unfinished.

 

Reports, have it the another P22-million was used in the installation of the metal sheets.

 

In San Luis town, portions of the Arnedo Dike in the barangays of Sta. Catalina and Sto. Tomas are also collapsing every time the Pampanga River over flows.

 

This also holds true in Barangay San Pedro, San Simon town wherein the residents are also asking for appropriate engineering intervention to avoid loss of lives and properties in the future.