BACOLOR, Pampanga – Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda led on Wednesday an inspection of the FVR [Fidel V. Ramos] megadike’s west lateral portion to check on reported damages and if it is still in good condition.
Pineda personally visited the area after she was informed by Mayor Jomar Hizon that several families have built shanties near the dike.
“The place is not yours and you have to leave it. And why do you throw garbage at the dike?” she told informal settlers.
Pineda asked residents of the so-called Control point in Barangay Sta. Barbara here to transfer in a resettlement center provided by Hizon.
“The majority should not suffer due to the activities of few people. The dike should be improved and protected to safeguard the people,” said Pineda in the dialect. She vowed to provide assistance to more than 20 families affected by the relocation.
JICA INSPECTION
Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to inspect on August 1 the megadike and projects related to the P4.6 billion flood-mitigation project for the province. It was learned that most of the projects are funded by JICA.
“The JICA may provide more loans for the improvement of the project to eliminate floods in Pampanga. We should help each other convince them,” said Pineda in a meeting in nearby City of San Fernando shortly after the inspection of the dike.
On December 28, 1999, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and JICA concluded its agreement on providing a loan for the flood and mudflow control works at the Pasig-Potrero River and Pasac Delta Area. The project was dubbed Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project (PHUMP) II.
APPEAL
Pineda made an appeal to the Department of Public Highways (DPWH) represented by regional director Engr. Alfredo Tolentino and six mayors affected by the PHUMP II project being undertaken by the Mt. Pinatubo Engineering-Project Management Office (MPE-PMO). They were Mayors Kit Naguit of Minalin, Eddie Guerrero of Floridablanca, Ric Rivera of Guagua, Carling De La Cruz of Porac, Mylene Pineda-Cayabyab of Lubao and Hizon.
Pineda and the mayors were informed about the five concerns raised by JICA: Maintenance of the dike; breaching of the dike; garbage thrown along and near the dike; informal and formal settlers.
Hizon raised the concern about the reported deliberate breaching of the portion of the dike in Barangay Balas, here. It was destroyed a few years ago to allow an access from the dike to the residential area in Balas.
He asked Pineda to help him provide electricity immediately at the 15-hectare lot in Barangay Tenejero here where affected Sta. Barbara residents will be relocated before August 1.
In the same meeting, Mayor Rivera was surprised to learn from Engr. Lita Manalo of the MPE-PMO that piles of garbage had been thrown in Barangay San Jose, Guagua.
Rivera added that the recent onslaught of rain and “lack of cooperation” of San Jose officials had contributed to the garbage problem in the area.
RELOCATION
Pineda also urged Rivera and barangay officials to help her persuade formal settlers in Guagua, including the Gagui and Pangilinan families, to sell a portion of their property. This, she said, will pave the way for the completion of the lower maragul diversion channel of the PHUMP II.
Pineda was earlier informed that the two families want to sell their properties by at least P2,000 per square meter.
Rosve Henson, chief of staff of Pineda, disclosed that based on zonal valuation, the price of the lot is only P40 per square meter.
Mayor Cayabyab, daughter of Pineda, said she had asked informal settlers living near the PHUMP II project to relocate in a site provided by the municipal government.
“So far, the people are cooperative and we don’t have any problem,” she said.
Manalo, for her part, said it was in “Lubao that they didn’t experience difficulty in convincing people to relocate.”
Pineda personally visited the area after she was informed by Mayor Jomar Hizon that several families have built shanties near the dike.
“The place is not yours and you have to leave it. And why do you throw garbage at the dike?” she told informal settlers.
Pineda asked residents of the so-called Control point in Barangay Sta. Barbara here to transfer in a resettlement center provided by Hizon.
“The majority should not suffer due to the activities of few people. The dike should be improved and protected to safeguard the people,” said Pineda in the dialect. She vowed to provide assistance to more than 20 families affected by the relocation.
JICA INSPECTION
Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to inspect on August 1 the megadike and projects related to the P4.6 billion flood-mitigation project for the province. It was learned that most of the projects are funded by JICA.
“The JICA may provide more loans for the improvement of the project to eliminate floods in Pampanga. We should help each other convince them,” said Pineda in a meeting in nearby City of San Fernando shortly after the inspection of the dike.
On December 28, 1999, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and JICA concluded its agreement on providing a loan for the flood and mudflow control works at the Pasig-Potrero River and Pasac Delta Area. The project was dubbed Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project (PHUMP) II.
APPEAL
Pineda made an appeal to the Department of Public Highways (DPWH) represented by regional director Engr. Alfredo Tolentino and six mayors affected by the PHUMP II project being undertaken by the Mt. Pinatubo Engineering-Project Management Office (MPE-PMO). They were Mayors Kit Naguit of Minalin, Eddie Guerrero of Floridablanca, Ric Rivera of Guagua, Carling De La Cruz of Porac, Mylene Pineda-Cayabyab of Lubao and Hizon.
Pineda and the mayors were informed about the five concerns raised by JICA: Maintenance of the dike; breaching of the dike; garbage thrown along and near the dike; informal and formal settlers.
Hizon raised the concern about the reported deliberate breaching of the portion of the dike in Barangay Balas, here. It was destroyed a few years ago to allow an access from the dike to the residential area in Balas.
He asked Pineda to help him provide electricity immediately at the 15-hectare lot in Barangay Tenejero here where affected Sta. Barbara residents will be relocated before August 1.
In the same meeting, Mayor Rivera was surprised to learn from Engr. Lita Manalo of the MPE-PMO that piles of garbage had been thrown in Barangay San Jose, Guagua.
Rivera added that the recent onslaught of rain and “lack of cooperation” of San Jose officials had contributed to the garbage problem in the area.
RELOCATION
Pineda also urged Rivera and barangay officials to help her persuade formal settlers in Guagua, including the Gagui and Pangilinan families, to sell a portion of their property. This, she said, will pave the way for the completion of the lower maragul diversion channel of the PHUMP II.
Pineda was earlier informed that the two families want to sell their properties by at least P2,000 per square meter.
Rosve Henson, chief of staff of Pineda, disclosed that based on zonal valuation, the price of the lot is only P40 per square meter.
Mayor Cayabyab, daughter of Pineda, said she had asked informal settlers living near the PHUMP II project to relocate in a site provided by the municipal government.
“So far, the people are cooperative and we don’t have any problem,” she said.
Manalo, for her part, said it was in “Lubao that they didn’t experience difficulty in convincing people to relocate.”
