Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, Aug. 7) —The government is looking to raise a portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) affected by recent heavy flooding to prevent it from happening again.
“Approved ang pagtaas ng tulay sa bandang San Simon ng NLEX. Approved,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during a briefing in San Fernando, Pampanga.
[Translation: The raising of the bridge in San Simon of the NLEX is approved.]In the same briefing, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) president Rogelio Singson said the Department of Public Works and Highways agreed to raise a portion of NLEX in San Simon.
“(The) DPWH, based on my conversation yesterday, pumapayag na sila for us to raise that portion by 0.7 (meters) and mag-iiwan kami ng clearance ng 4.5 meters,” said Singson.
[Translation: The DPWH, based on my conversation yesterday, they allowed us to raise that portion by 0.7 meters and we’ll leave a clearance of 4.5 meters.]He said the improvement will allow water to pass under the elevated part, adding that the affected portion is about 200 meters long.Marcos said alternate routes will have to be figured out.
During the briefing, the president said government agencies, including local officials, should deploy “more attuned” solutions amid threats of climate change, with Bulacan and Pampanga suffering from widespread flooding due to recent typhoons and enhanced habagat.
READ: Bulacan placed under state of calamity due to ‘Egay’ floods
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“Hindi na tayo babalik sa dati, ganito na ang climate change. Hindi maaari na gagawin natin ‘yung dati nating ginagawa,” the president said at a situation briefing in San Fernando, Pampanga.
[Translation: We can’t go back to the past, this is climate change. We can’t apply the same measures we did before.]Marcos said the national government has a master plan, which includes the establishment of large-scale water impoundment that seeks to combine efforts for flood control and boosting irrigation.
“Hindi lang natin iniipon ‘yung tubig para makaiwas sa baha, iniipon din natin para magamit natin sa tag-init. That’s the plan,” he said.
[Translation: We’re not only storing water to prevent flooding but this can also be used during the summer season.]The president said this would be a part of the long-term plan, but the immediate needs would include the massive dredging of internal waterways and main river outflows.During his visit to some evacuation centers in the two provinces, Marcos assured the families there that government support will continue.Marcos also said they can expect to receive cash assistance, especially those severely affected by the situation.
