In a bid to combat its longstanding issue of inundation, the Bulacan provincial government has initiated a sweeping flood control initiative aimed at providing a concrete and lasting solution.
Led by Governor Daniel Fernando, in collaboration with national and local authorities, the Bulacan River Dredging and Restoration Program was officially unveiled on Monday, April 29.
The program marks the commencement of a province-wide effort to address the extensive siltation in the river systems of Angat, Pamarawan, Malolos, Hagonoy, and Guiguinto, while also establishing a navigational passage in the offshore delta.
Speaking at the project launch held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Governor Fernando conveyed plans for the commencement of extensive dredging operations scheduled to commence in the second week of May.
The initiative aims not only to alleviate the severe siltation plaguing Bulacan's river networks but also to create a sustainable solution to the perpetual threat of flooding.
“The plan is to initially dredge the mouth of the river to enable us to enter smaller inland waters throughout the province. Environmental dredging combined with management of flood water movement, through the construction of floodwalls and floodgates, will be the key to solve the decades-old flooding problem in the province,” he said.
Fernando is hopeful that the effects of the river restoration, through the help of their private partner TCSC Corp., will be immediately felt in the coming rainy season.
He said the private firm would finance the project, as it projected revenue sharing through the commercial disposition of dredged materials from the rivers.
“Expert engineers and geologists from TCSC Corp. will use state-of-the-art power dredging vessels that have the capacity to dredge 1,500 to 2,000 cubic meters per hour compared to the usual dredging vessels which almost take a month to dredge the equivalent to an hour of this volume. It’s a game-changer,” the governor said.
The river restoration program will prioritize environmental preservation throughout its planning and execution.
TCSC Corp. emphasizes a meticulous and ecologically-conscious approach to the comprehensive dredging of the silt-laden rivers.
This methodical process aims to gradually restore the natural flow of water from their tributaries to their original state.
Governor Fernando urged the residents of Bulacan to actively participate in resolving the recurring issue of flooding in the province.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #FloodControlProjectinBulacan #TCSCCorp