President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered the building of more water impounding systems in Central Luzon.
This will mitigate flooding in the region, according to the President.
Many parts of Central Luzon were submerged in flood following the devastating effects of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon (Habagat).
President Marcos led local chief executives of the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, and Pampanga in a situation briefing at the Bulacan Provincial Capitol in Malolos City to determine the impact of the weather disturbances.
“Ganun din ‘yung observation ko dun sa — habang lumilipad kami, iniikot, tinitingnan — ‘yung tubig walang pupuntahan e. Wala talagang pupuntahan. Mataas yung tubig ng dagat. Mataas yung tubig ng ilog, may baha pa dun sa mga farmlands,” the President told the briefing.
“Ang laki ng bumaba na tubig, sabay sabay, bigla. Hindi na nakayanan ng ating mga slope protection, ng ating flood control, ng ating mga dike, so we have to find another way to do it. Kaya palagay ko ‘yung impounding talaga, ‘yung ponds ang pinakamagiging solusyon d’yan eh,” he added.
Reporting on the damage caused by the typhoon and Habagat in Bulacan, Gov. Daniel Fernando expressed the willingness of the province to work with the national government for a permanent solution to flooding in the region.
Fernando informed President Marcos about the programs of the Bulacan provincial government to mitigate flooding.
“At makalipas ang halos tatlong taon ng masusing pagsisiyasat at pagplano, naisip ko pong kunin ang pagkakataon upang ipagbigay-alam na tayo ay nakatakdang mag-implement ng dredging Bulacan offshore at lima pang mga prayoridad na ilog, katulad ng Angat River, Pamarawan River, Malolos River, Hagonoy River, at Region 2 River,” Fernando said.
The recent calamity caused PhP103.7 million in damages to Bulacan’s agriculture and fishery sectors. It also brought damages to the province’s infrastructure worth PhP895.6 million. PND
