DPWH urged to repair collapsed dike

MANILA, Philippines - A Valenzuela City councilor yesterday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metro Manila Development Authority to immediately repair a collapsed earth dike along Marilao River and to dredge the heavily silted tributary as at least 50 percent of the city is still flooded two weeks after “Ondoy.”

“Water from Marilao River continues to flow in the Polo area, which is composed of at least 16 of Valenzuela’s 32 barangays, for the earth dike in Coloong that protects the city from the river collapsed during the storm,” Councilor Alvin Feliciano, also president of the Valenzuela City Liga ng mga Barangay, told The STAR.

He said the national government needs to find “concrete measures” to solve the flooding that affects Valenzuela and neighboring Bulacan province “before it is too late.” Under the DPWH program, the Valenzuela-Bulacan flood control project is set for implementation in 2016.

“When we upgrade our roads the water would go to low lying areas in Bulacan, when they also improve their floodwaters would again return to Valenzuela, with several of its barangays lie below sea level,” Feliciano said.

Feliciano suggested the immediate dredging of Marilao River and the establishment of a permanent barrier, not just an earthen dike, along the bank of the river.   – Pete Laude