Speedy repair of damaged Tarlac dikes urged

TARLAC CITY — Local officials have called on Public Works and Highways Secretary Florante Soriquez to speed up the repair of damaged portions of the earth dikes along the Tarlac River.

"They (present) a clear and present danger," Gov. Jose Yap Sr. said of the 700-meter breach in the earth dike in Barangay Colibangbang, Paniqui town and the 200-meter collapsed portion of the embankment in Barangay Malayep, Gerona town.

The dike portions were washed away at the height of torrential rains last month.

Flooding in Paniqui worsened after excess water was released from the San Roque Dam which flowed into the Agno River and later into the Tarlac River. The towns of Moncada, Ramos and Anao were also affected.

Should there be heavy downpours similar to what pounded Central Luzon last month, Gerona Mayor Harmes Sembrano fears that the sandbags stacked along the bank of the Tarlac River in Barangay Malayep may be washed away, causing widespread damage in his town.

Tarlac third district Rep. Gilbert Teodoro Jr., a native of Paniqui, said that unless the damaged dike in Barangay Colibangbang is repaired soon, more destruction may befall Paniqui as well as Moncada, Ramos and Anao.

Work on the Tarlac River dikes are under the jurisdiction of the DPWH’s Agno River Flood Control Project, which covers this province and Pangasinan. — Benjie Villa