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Pangasinan gov’t set to dig swelling river

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan (Dec. 15)—Despite residents’ protests, the local government here is set to dig and wreck structures found along the Macalong River to mitigate flooding in the city.

Dredging and excavation will take place along heavily-silted areas of the river. Funds were sourced out from the proceeds of city fiesta which culminated this December.

But for militant Bayan-Pangasinan, the perennial problem is rooted in the continued operation of San Roque Multi-Purpose (SRMP) dam in San Manuel.

In a statement deploring the dam’s capacity for flood-control, Bayan called for the immediate decommissioning of the dam to alleviate the condition of casualty-stricken Pangasinenses during typhoons.

Tropical depressions Unding and Violeta and supertyphoon Yoyong, lashing the country in just two weeks caused the province minor damages primarily in aquatic resources. Cottage and entertainment business along Tondaligan shorelines were reportedly wrecked by typhoon Yoyong.

But the storms have failed to inundate the city because of a drainage canal along Alexander road, a major thoroughfare, according to local officials.

The local government initially identified 22 structures supposedly contributing to the swelling of Macalong River during typhoons. Owners have not given in to the demand of the local government to voluntarily dismantle their properties.

Bayan-Pangasinan said the Quezon, Aurora and Nueva Ecija tragedies would meet Pangasinenses and nearby provinces in Central Luzon should the dam persist to operate. This is due to a near 10-meter fault line, Digdig fault, that could hit and break the dam leading to a most-frightening flood ever experienced, the group added. # Jong dela Cruz for NORDIS

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