The clean-up and rehabilitation initiatives of the Mabilog administration for the Iloilo river got abig boost when Senator Franklin M. Drilon requested the Department of Public Works andHighways (DPWH) to deploy dredging equipment to reduce the siltation of this waterway.
Drilon saw for himself the improvements on the Iloilo River after an early morning brisk walk onthe Trenas Boulevard and got in touch with DPWH Usec Raul Asis for the agency to brings itsdredging equipment here.”I obtained a commitment from Usec Asis that the DPWH will transport the equipment andimmediately commence work from its own funds,” Drilon said.
Drilon noted that the Iloilo river has turned shallow in many places as a result of siltation, aresult of illegal structures such as shanties on the riverbanks and fishpens upstream of theCarpenter Bridge in Molo district.”This is my contribution to saving the Iloilo river, and I urge Mayor Mabilog to demolish theseillegal structures,” Drilon said. “I am also encouraging the private sector to help these efforts.”Drilon said it is important that the structures are removed because these impede the flow of water, and hasten the siltation process.Drilon also met with Mabilog and business leaders led by his cousin, Rex Drilon, to reviewstrategies to attract investments to Iloilo City.
On Friday, Drilon revealed to the Regional Development Council (RDC) VI that AgricultureSecretary Proceso Alcala had started discussions with business tycoon Alfonso Uygongco for apossible Public-Private Partnership to build a hydro-electric dam on the Jalaur River in Calinog,Iloilo.”I am committing my full support for the project,” he said.The project, estimated to cost P19 billion, can irrigate 30,000 hectares of agricultural lands andgenerate 12.5 megawatts of power, he said.
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Source: scribd, February 7, 2011