Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 31) – With over 10 towns in Bulacan still submerged after days of heavy rains, Gov. Daniel Fernando is pushing for a comprehensive flood management master plan to permanently address flooding.
At a technical working group hearing of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways Monday, Fernando said initial reports indicated agricultural damage from flooding reached ₱93 million, while initial damage to livestock and poultry was ₱8 million
\”Napapanahon na talaga na magkaroon tayo ng flooding management masterplan,\” he said. \”Napakahalaga ng rubber gates na ito sapagkat ito ay umaalalay sa tubig ng Bustos Dam. At ang pinakamabigat dito lahat ito ay dapat palitan na.\”
[Translation: It’s time to have a flooding management master plan. The rubber gates are important as they control the water supply in Bustos Dam, but they are in need of replacement.]
Fernando said the government should study the construction of elevated roads a parts of the province are vulnerable to flooding.
House Ways and Means Committee chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda also mentioned that San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which is building the Bulacan International Airport, has an unsolicited proposal to solve flooding in the province.
\”The unsolicited project is really from San Miguel, precisely because they want to protect the $30-billion investment they’re putting up there, and that includes the comprehensive and integrated flood control,\” he said.
SMC told the panel that it is stepping up cleanup efforts to remove silt from the Meycauayan and Maycapiz/Taliptip Rivers. Data presented by SMC at the hearing showed that it has removed 223,491 cubic meters of silt from the Meycauayan River as of April 2023.
