PALO, Leyte – The municipal government here through the help of funds coming from the provincial government of Leyte, the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management(DBM) will soon implement flood control project in Bangon River, one of the major river in said municipality.
Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla in an interview revealed that the provincial government through Governor Jericho Petilla provided P25 million for said project.
Said amount was taken from the incentives that the provincial government received after being awarded with the Seal of Good Housekeeping and the Pamana ng Lahi Awards.
“My job was to determine the area where to put the project,” said Petilla.
Around two kilometers from Brgy. Purisima to some portion of Brgy. St. Michael were identified to be included in the project implementation that will include dredging and concreting of river embankment, said Petilla.
However, said amount is not enough, according to Petilla, as it needs a huge amount.
“We are doing it little by little because we can’t afford to provide the whole amount,” Petilla added.
Aside from the provincial government, the DPWH had also provided funds for the project as instructed by President Aquino amounting to P46 million, said Petilla.
“It was decided that the project for that amount be put in the area of Brgy. Purisima along that embankment to limit and reduce the erosion cause by the flow of water,” Petilla added.
After the flooding in March last year, the agency presented a survey of the river and proposed a plan of action, which aside from the dredging and rechanneling of Bangon River that traverses the town of Palo, also asked for the putting up of a river control system that would cease scouring of the river bed and consequently prevent further soil erosion.
It was estimated to cost P50 million as earlier proposed by the DPWH.
Aside from the DPWH, DBM had also allocated a total of P320 million for the same project which is to be give on staggered basis as instructed by Secretary Florencio Abad on orders by President Aquino, according to Petilla.
The populated area along the river bank is to be prioritize once the DBM releases portion of the budget.
“We will prioritize the populated area which is about one kilometer and those identified as critical points,” Petilla stressed.
To recall, after the March 17, 2011 flood Mayor Petilla immediately asked assistance from the national government for the construction of river control and maintain the condition of the Bernard Reed Bridge over the Bangon River.
On Dec. 27 of the same year, another flood hit the town forcing people residing along the river banks to evacuate to safer grounds.
1 comment:
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