MACABEBE, Pampanga – A flood-free Macabebe will further achieve economic progress, said Mayor Annette Flores Balgan who ended her nine-year rule on July 1.
Balgan, who is now vice mayor of Macabebe, on June 27 led the launching of the massive dredging and desilting operations at the downstream portion of the Pampanga River, particularly at the portion in Barangay Consuelo here.
The project is seen to drastically solve the perennial flooding problem in Macabebe and nearby areas.
“It took four years of hard work before we finally realize this dream to end flooding in our town or at least drastically limit its effects.
The solution was finally achieved a few days before I step down as mayor ,” said Balgan. “This will further boost progress in our town and end the misery of our people.”
Flooding in Macabebe lasts for months shortly after Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991. The heavily silted portions of Pampanga river cause the prolong flooding.
The dredging and desilting operations will be done for 10 straight years at the no cost to the local and national governments, disclosed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Also present during the launching are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Universal De Leon Construction and Aggregates (UDLCA), the private contractor of the project.
Oliver De Leon, CEO of UDLCA, said they will deploy a backhoe on barge at the portion of Manila Bay and nearby areas of Consuelo to dredge the heavily-silted.
He added that the dredging and desilting activities will continuously conducted to ensure that the Manila Bay can accommodate the flowing water from the upstream portion of the Pampanga river .
DPWH 1st Engineering Office Engineer III Jayson Jauco vowed to support the monitoring of the program to ensure that it will be aligned with the other flood-control projects being implemented. He also lauded Balgan for initiating the project.