Posted on May 30, 2016
By Freddie C. Velez, Manila Bulletin
As of now, the construction of 15 kilometer-dike around Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System (MMORS) is ongoing, which is part of the Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan Flood Control Project that will prevent water from Manila Bay to come in during high tide and heavy rains,” Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said yesterday.
The mayor called on local government units, civic groups and Bulakenyos to all join hands in reviving the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System (MMORS) which the New York-based Blacksmith International once described as one the “dirtiest rivers” in the world.
Alvarado, who is also the chairman of the Regional Development Council in Central Luzon, said the dredging of the river system and its development as flood control resource and socio-economic productive area will cost P1.9 million.
The project will feature the desilting of the whole river channel, river mouth deepening and its riverbank stabilization, and planting of mangroves. The efforts have been identified as the effective ways to address perennial flooding in the towns of Meycauayan, Marilao and Obando.
It will also include the clearing and relocation of informal settlers along the river system and the regular clean-up activities, urban drainage clogging and dike improvement of about 30 kilometers in length for the flood control.
“It will need more than modern technology to clean and biologically revive the dead MMORS. Its dredging and improvement are part of our long term solution to address flooding during rainy reason and to erase the bad image of the river,” the governor said.
The governor explained that while the dredging and the dike improvement of the polluted river will soon to materialize, authorities will still need the cooperation of the community to save the river system.
Source: Manila Bulletin
