Philippines: Pampanga Rivers Dredging Nears Completion

Channel excavation and dredging works in Upper and Lower Guagua Rivers and Dalan Bapor River to protect the municipalities of Guagua, Sasmuan, Lubao and other adjacent towns in Pampanga are nearing completion.

In a report, the whole project is 86.92% complete with the excavation and dredging of a total of approximately 16.9 km of the three major rivers.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said that the continuous channel excavation and dredging will increase the drainage efficiency of these rivers in Pasac Delta thereby allowing the free flow of water from the upstream towards the sea and not to overflow in the thickly populated areas of these towns including the city of San Fernando in Pampanga.

According to Singson, these flood control measures will also reduce the duration, extent, and depth of flooding in the event that heavy rainfall occurs in the area.

DPWH Project Director Rogelio Ang said the project costing P868 million is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] and the Philippine government.

Although the project is beset with the stoppage of dredging operation due to obstruction such as trash and garbage in the waterways, works are still ahead of schedule and are expected to be fully completed by June this year.

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Dredging Today Staff, February 27, 2012; Image: dpwh