FOR the longest time, rivers are deemed essential as it helps prevent flooding. It is also for this reason that many local government units (LGU) are spending quite a significant chunk of its limited resources to keep their waterways free from any obstruction like sediments, solid waste and permanent structures.
An example of which is the lakeshore town of Angono where local officials are inspecting rivers on a daily basis.
According to Vice Mayor Gerardo Calderon, the town referred to as the Arts Capital of the Philippines rarely gets flooded since they culminated year-round dredging activities downstream – and take note, at no cost to the local government.
How the hell could they manage to undertake such an expensive earthmoving activity without spending a dime from its local coffers? The answer is simple – they tapped a private partner to undertake the costly dredging and whatever sediment they extract from the river becomes theirs.
Calderon doesn’t worry about over dredging as the river would not run out of sediments since the river flow comes from its upland barangays – over and above their strict guidance as to the allowable depth and width.
In contrast, San Mateo town (also in Rizal) located at the immediate northeast of Metro Manila is being bugged by local folk over what they claimed does not seem to help in preventing floods.
According to residents of Barangay Guitnang Bayan Uno, a private developer is allegedly dumping filling materials directly into the river near the Birmingham Sunrise Subdivision.
To be perfectly honest, I haven’t been to San Mateo for quite some time, for which I could not vouch on the veracity of the claim. But on the assumption that the allegations are true, then I could only suspect a stinky conspiracy between the developer and probably a handful but certainly powerful local government officials.
Perhaps, Rizal Governor Nina Ricci Ynares should step in.
The neophyte provincial chief executive has recently shown she’s got the political will (rarely seen among politicians) when she issued a cease and desist order against Efsiaca Construction Supplies and Trading over its earthmoving activities in Barangay Bagumbayan, Teresa, Rizal.
Attagirl Governor Nina!
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #AColumnByFernanAngeles #TaleoftwoLGUs