Posted on July 24, 2024
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues to carry out its declogging and dredging operations in river channels and tributaries in Pampanga.
Phase 1 of the project includes the removal of water lilies or hyacinth that clog Tulaoc River in Barangay Sta. Monica and Sto. Niño in San Simon town in Pampanga which was completed on July 17, 2024.
DPWH-3 Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said the operation started on April 11, 2024.
Tolentino added that 63,283 cubic meters of silt were removed from the river.
“This is part of the flood mitigation program to regulate the flow of water in various water channels or tributaries, particularly in the Tulaoc River near the North Luzon Expressway,” Tolentino said.
It can be recalled that last year, water from Pampanga River overflowed and reached the San Simon section of NLEx along the Tulaoc Bridge which caused several days of heavy traffic.
Meanwhile, DPWH Assistant Regional Director Melquiades Sto. Domingo said Phase 2 of the clearing and dredging operations in Sto. Niño will begin on Aug. 1, 2024.
He said amphibious excavators and IMS Versi dredge machines are being used in the operations which are expected to be completed by June 2025.
Engineer Donalyn Nacpil, dredge master of DPWH-3, said in a text message to The Manila Times that the local government units (LGUs) must also do their part to prevent waterlilies and other species like “quiapo” from accumulating and clogging the waterways.
Nacpil observed that the aquatic herbs begin to appear in the river a couple of weeks after they have been removed from the water channels.
Sto. Domingo, on the other hand, encouraged the LGUs to coordinate and work hand-in-hand with the DPWH in its flood mitigation efforts.
