CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Some 22 years since the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has continued to pursue projects to mitigate its threat.
With the onset of the rainy season, the DPWH has assured Central Luzon folk that Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project Phase III (PHUMP III) is on track and will be completed this July. It is implemented with 7-million-yen fund from the Japanese government.
“The project covers the towns of Guagua, Sasmuan, and Lubao and the City of San Fernando and is now 86.7 percent complete,” said DPWH regional director Antonio Molano Jr.
While lahar threat from Mt. Pinatubo is almost gone since its eruption in June, 1991, scientists warned that flooding would remain a major long term effect of the volcanic eruption, amid channels clogged by volcanic debris in wide areas in Central Luzon.
Work on the PHUMP III started in November 2007. It consists the dredging of major rivers, diversion of Porac-Guiman, diversion of Sapang Maragul, improvement of five creeks, raising of roads, and six bridges for the Guagua-Sasmuan-Lubao area as well as improvement of four creeks, cut-off channel, and construction and replacement of five bridges in the City of San Fernando area.
“Through the project, inundation level will be reduced from almost two meters to less than a meter with duration expected to drop from 45 days to just 10 and area affected down to only less than 20 percent. This would benefit around 88,296 families,” Molano added.
He said “part of the mitigation project is monitoring and planning of non-structural measures, and institutional capability building (ICAB).”
“These include flood hazard mapping, first aid training, barangay contingency plan on flood, flood fighting drill, forestation through indigenous tree species for watershed, trees to school project, trainings on land use planning and solid waste management, establishment of materials recovery, controlled dump, and sanitary landfill facilities, and livelihood trainings,” he noted.
