ANGELES CITY – A private contractor reiterated yesterday that the completion of the P150-million slope protection project at the Balibago creek here will save residential and business establishments in Barangay Malabanias and Balibago, reaching about P1-billion in investments.
The Haidee Construction and Development Corp. disclosed that only about half of the budget or some P75 million was released for the project approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to save houses and business outlets near the Balibago creek.
Mayor Edgardo “Ed” Pamintuan asked representatives of Haidee to explain the erosion at the creek as residents and traders expressed alarm over the erosion which threatened anew the residential and business outlets at the Diamond and Sta. Maria Subdivision.
Haidee earlier won the rights to do the sheet filing and slope protection work at the creek.
Henrick Degler, owner of one of the hotels at Diamond threatened to be destroyed by possible erosion, urged the national and local government to divert the water coming from Clark Freeport and other areas to nearby Abacan, including SM Clark, as a “permanent solution.”
But Haidee said “the completion of work is an effective solution so the release of the other half of the budget is needed.”
Pamintuan reportedly worked for the release of funds as then chairman of the Subic Clark Alliance and for Development Council (SCADC) to save affected areas at the height of rains last year.
In a press statement, SM Clark said “we are one with the call to save Balibago Creek. Our use of the existing water channel is in accordance with the approved system.”
However, it added that “we also believe in the need to constantly monitor and review its effects and, just like in the past we are committed to prevent further damage to it. We’ll fully support whatever plans for its rehabilitation”.
Haidee disclosed that the eroded back portion of the Degler-owned hotel contributed to the damage at the “unfinished” project.
It added that Belinda Degler, wife of Henrick Degler, signed a waiver in March 18, 2010 excluding them from the construction of sheet piles along the river bank designed to save residences and businesses near the creek.
“Degler decided to make their own protection project at the back of their hotel but it was damaged at the start of the rainy season last month. It resulted to damages to nearby sheet piles made by us,” said Haidee.
It said the destruction of the Degler-made protection project caused damages to the ground sill which controls the flow of water along the creek.
Haidee also said the owners of Stardust dug the river bank at the back portion of their business at Diamond which also contributed to the erosion. Stardust is a few meters away from Marble Inn.
The Haidee Construction and Development Corp. disclosed that only about half of the budget or some P75 million was released for the project approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to save houses and business outlets near the Balibago creek.
Mayor Edgardo “Ed” Pamintuan asked representatives of Haidee to explain the erosion at the creek as residents and traders expressed alarm over the erosion which threatened anew the residential and business outlets at the Diamond and Sta. Maria Subdivision.
Haidee earlier won the rights to do the sheet filing and slope protection work at the creek.
Henrick Degler, owner of one of the hotels at Diamond threatened to be destroyed by possible erosion, urged the national and local government to divert the water coming from Clark Freeport and other areas to nearby Abacan, including SM Clark, as a “permanent solution.”
But Haidee said “the completion of work is an effective solution so the release of the other half of the budget is needed.”
Pamintuan reportedly worked for the release of funds as then chairman of the Subic Clark Alliance and for Development Council (SCADC) to save affected areas at the height of rains last year.
In a press statement, SM Clark said “we are one with the call to save Balibago Creek. Our use of the existing water channel is in accordance with the approved system.”
However, it added that “we also believe in the need to constantly monitor and review its effects and, just like in the past we are committed to prevent further damage to it. We’ll fully support whatever plans for its rehabilitation”.
Haidee disclosed that the eroded back portion of the Degler-owned hotel contributed to the damage at the “unfinished” project.
It added that Belinda Degler, wife of Henrick Degler, signed a waiver in March 18, 2010 excluding them from the construction of sheet piles along the river bank designed to save residences and businesses near the creek.
“Degler decided to make their own protection project at the back of their hotel but it was damaged at the start of the rainy season last month. It resulted to damages to nearby sheet piles made by us,” said Haidee.
It said the destruction of the Degler-made protection project caused damages to the ground sill which controls the flow of water along the creek.
Haidee also said the owners of Stardust dug the river bank at the back portion of their business at Diamond which also contributed to the erosion. Stardust is a few meters away from Marble Inn.
