The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working on comprehensive plan for the first major project proposal under the Marcos administration that will address flooding in Pampanga and Bulacan.
Emil Sadain, DPWH senior undersecretary, said in a statement over the weekend the agency tapped planning and engineering consulting firm, Woodfields Consultants Inc. to undertake the comprehensive formulation of effective and efficient plan for the Pampanga River Basin in Central Luzon, one of the areas most frequently affected by flooding.
During the meeting with the consultant last week, Sadain emphasized the need to come up with one whole plan for Central Luzon – Pampanga River Floodway Flood Control project with retarding swamp in San Antonio Swamp and the Pampanga Delta Development Program phase 2.
Widening of river channels and construction of viaduct, dikes, revetment works, cut-off channel, control weirs, floodgates and sluicegates are proposed engineering interventions to mitigate and prevent flood damage brought about by the incursion of river waters to communities.
The project components of the proposed flood control plan with design consideration of 100-year flood return period will capture the entire flood mitigation for Central Luzon from Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bulacan, added Sadain.
The Pampanga River Basin from the mouth of Manila Bay traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. Other major river network connected to Pampanga River Basin are Talavera River, Rio Chico River, Pantabangan River, Colonel River, Peñaranda River, Sacobia River, San Miguel River and Angat River.
In related development, DPWH said the construction of P567- million Pampanga Delta Bridge project is now 88 percent complete and will be completed in September 2023.
The construction of the 270-meter bridge under the DPWH Bridges Construction Replacement Program 2 implemented by DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Bridges Management Cluster ) is being carried out by contractor Eddmari Construction & Trading in joint venture partnership with J.H. Pajara Construction Company.
The bridge will stimulate investment and growth with better connectivity for Masantol and Macabebe which are known to be Pampanga’s center of aquaculture development, the fastest growing food-producing activity on the northern coast of Manila Bay having hectares of fishponds for shrimps, bangus, tilapia and crabs.
