Balanga moves to address flooding

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Aug. 20 — The city government has conducted a consultative meeting to address the perennial flooding problem here that plague five low-lying coastal villages for more than a decade.

City Mayor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III said the move was initiated in an effort to resolve the problem in barangays Puerto Rivas Itaas and Ibaba, Lote, Totugas and Sibakan, which have experienced ankle-to breast-deep flooding caused by rising sea water during high tide.

The meeting was attended by the local officials from the five affected barangays, representatives of non-government organizations and members of the newly-formed Task Force on Flooding and Drainage.

Billy Santos, city consultant and a resident of one of the flood-prone villages, said the consultative meeting was held to get the consensus on how the city government should solve the flooding.

Earlier, Garcia ordered the creation of Task Force on Flooding and Drainage to study and provide measures on how to solve flooding problems in the city.

The mayor earlier also said they have also asked from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo P100-million for the procurement of equipment like dredger or back hoe and expenses for its operation.

He said dredging and desilting of waterways will be very expensive but it has to be done.

He also said experts have recommended regular maintenance of natural waterways instead of creating new ones.

Garcia added that he has directed a massive, city- wide information campaign on proper waste disposal that would encourage people to refrain from throwing garbage into rivers and dikes. (PNA)

/V3/ZST/Ernie Esconde/ps/

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