Dredging of the Pantal River, one of seven water streams that traverses the city, will begin this month to ease flooding in the downtown area during the rainy season.
Decades of siltation has caused the river bed of Pantal to become shallow, which contributes to flooding on rainy days.
DPWH District Engr.Rodolfo Dion said that they expect to haul out at least 500,000 cubic meters of sand and silt deposit which is equivalent to 25,000 truckloads.
A dump truck can only load 20 cubic meters of sand at one time.
Dion said that the dredging is expected to start next week with the release of P10 million to cover the expenses in extracting sand and silt deposits.
Meanwhile, Dion said that other DPWH projects covered by his district will soon be completed.
Dion said that the upgrading of the Lucao District-De Venecia Highway in Dagupan City is now 75 percent complete and will open by the end of February or early March.
The Mangaldan-San Fabian Road is now 95 percent complete and is expected to be opened by the end of February.
Upgrading of the A.B. Fernandez Avenue, a commonly flooded street in downtown Dagupan, will start in March with P49 million already released to support its improvement.
The busy street will be raised by 40 centimeters to ease motorists’ woes.
Dion said that the construction works are part of the Aquino administration’s infrastructure support nationwide to help increase economic and social opportunities for Filipinos.
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Press Release, February 11, 2013