Disaster management officials in the City of San Fernando yesterday called for a joint flood summit with stakeholders of four other Pampanga towns in light of the massive flooding experienced last week.
In a resolution submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pampanga’s capital city, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) strongly endorsed a flood summit among the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Minalin, Bacolor, Mexico and San Fernando.
Councilor Benedict Jasper Lagman, chairman of the SP committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Waterways and Flooding Intervention, filed a counterpart resolution in yesterday’s regular session to adopt the CDRRMC recommendation.
He said that in light of the climate change experienced throughout the nation and the world, “solidarity among the different towns of Pampanga is fundamental in fighting the adverse effects of the said global phenomenon.”
This city and the four neighboring towns have interconnecting waterways and floodway systems such as the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin taildike, San Fernando River and the Pau River.
On Monday, an inter-agency team began clearing water hyacinths impeding to flow of water at the Pau River in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Sto. Tomas town.
The said river is one of the main water channels that drain floodwater from the capital city, which was hit by massive inundation in many areas when monsoon rains battered Luzon last week.
Lagman said the five involved localities are all prone to flooding and need a solid inter-governmental cooperation, specifically for flood control.
The summit would discuss ongoing projects and activities, and plans for flood prevention and mitigation, among others.
“The city, through the CDRRMC, commits itself to initiate or cooperate in any effort that promote resiliency in the city and whole province,” Lagman added.
The resolution was expected to be approved in the ongoing city council session as of this writing and the summit to be scheduled promptly. –Albert Lacanlale