ANGELES CITY – Thousands of residents and their properties in this city are threatened by possible flash floods as two portions of the Taug dike in Barangay Cuayan were breached, and the recent typhoons have caused more damage to it.
“I don’t want to cause panic. Some people may suffer heart attack but Taug dike is in critical condition. Now, there is reason to panic,” said Cuayan Village Chief Arturo Candelaria in the dialect as he toured Salapungan Barangay Captain Robert Yeen to the two breached portion of the dike.
Candelaria said that several housing projects, including the Angeleños Ville in Cuayan which is near the damaged portions of Taug, will suffer once the dike collapses.
He added that posh subdivisions in Cutcut and nearby villages are also in danger.
Candelaria disclosed that he had repeatedly asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional and district offices here to repair the dike “but to no avail.”
“I have written them several times since Taug was damaged last year. The damage is alarming now and they should act,” said Candelaria.
The first-term village chief said he had been informed by the DPWH officials that they could not repair the dike because they lack funds. He added that the DPWH informed him that they need at least P5-million to rehabilitate the dike.
“I wonder if P5-million pesos could be used if multi-billion residential and business areas are destroyed once the dike collapses and rampaging waters enter most parts of the city,” said Candelaria.
He was referring when Taug collapsed following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
Candelaria said “practically the whole of Angeles was flooded then when Taug collapsed.”
“We know the extent of damage because we grew up in Cuayan.”
APPEAL TO DPWH
Candelaria thanked Yeen for visiting his village to inspect the dike. They attended the recent Liga ng mga Barangay meeting where the Cuayan barangay chief discussed the problem on the dike.
“I want to appeal to the concerned agency and the city government. They must act now before it’s too late. We must learn from the past and we should not be complacent for lives and properties are at stake,” said Yeen.
In a chance upon interview on Friday, Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno said he had sent equipment to Cuayan and ordered the “strengthening” of the dike.
“It’s okey now,” said Nepomuceno. He added that he had asked his people to the monitor the dike.
Candelaria showed to Punto the portion of Taug repaired by the engineering department of the city. The damaged areas of Taug are near the residential area in Cuayan and at the bouderies of Cuayan and Barangay Manuali, Porac town.
“In fairness, the mayor and his brother (ABC President Robin Nepomuceno) acted on our request to repair the dike,” said Candelaria.
But he stressed that “this is temporary and it could not last long.”
Candelaria said the portions repaired by Nepomuceno had already been damaged by water considering there were no strong rains yet since last week.
“It’s a national project and the DPWH are directly responsible,” he said.
DIRECT HIT
Candelaria also showed to Yeen and this reporter a portion of the Angeleños Ville where water is flowing on a 24-hour basis. He disclosed that he had earlier asked the owners of the subdivision to put an access for the water to pass.
“Initially, they do not agree to my proposal. I told them they will lose more and their wall might collapse if they will not make a passageway for water,” said Candelaria.
“I don’t want to cause panic. Some people may suffer heart attack but Taug dike is in critical condition. Now, there is reason to panic,” said Cuayan Village Chief Arturo Candelaria in the dialect as he toured Salapungan Barangay Captain Robert Yeen to the two breached portion of the dike.
Candelaria said that several housing projects, including the Angeleños Ville in Cuayan which is near the damaged portions of Taug, will suffer once the dike collapses.
He added that posh subdivisions in Cutcut and nearby villages are also in danger.
Candelaria disclosed that he had repeatedly asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional and district offices here to repair the dike “but to no avail.”
“I have written them several times since Taug was damaged last year. The damage is alarming now and they should act,” said Candelaria.
The first-term village chief said he had been informed by the DPWH officials that they could not repair the dike because they lack funds. He added that the DPWH informed him that they need at least P5-million to rehabilitate the dike.
“I wonder if P5-million pesos could be used if multi-billion residential and business areas are destroyed once the dike collapses and rampaging waters enter most parts of the city,” said Candelaria.
He was referring when Taug collapsed following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
Candelaria said “practically the whole of Angeles was flooded then when Taug collapsed.”
“We know the extent of damage because we grew up in Cuayan.”
APPEAL TO DPWH
Candelaria thanked Yeen for visiting his village to inspect the dike. They attended the recent Liga ng mga Barangay meeting where the Cuayan barangay chief discussed the problem on the dike.
“I want to appeal to the concerned agency and the city government. They must act now before it’s too late. We must learn from the past and we should not be complacent for lives and properties are at stake,” said Yeen.
In a chance upon interview on Friday, Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno said he had sent equipment to Cuayan and ordered the “strengthening” of the dike.
“It’s okey now,” said Nepomuceno. He added that he had asked his people to the monitor the dike.
Candelaria showed to Punto the portion of Taug repaired by the engineering department of the city. The damaged areas of Taug are near the residential area in Cuayan and at the bouderies of Cuayan and Barangay Manuali, Porac town.
“In fairness, the mayor and his brother (ABC President Robin Nepomuceno) acted on our request to repair the dike,” said Candelaria.
But he stressed that “this is temporary and it could not last long.”
Candelaria said the portions repaired by Nepomuceno had already been damaged by water considering there were no strong rains yet since last week.
“It’s a national project and the DPWH are directly responsible,” he said.
DIRECT HIT
Candelaria also showed to Yeen and this reporter a portion of the Angeleños Ville where water is flowing on a 24-hour basis. He disclosed that he had earlier asked the owners of the subdivision to put an access for the water to pass.
“Initially, they do not agree to my proposal. I told them they will lose more and their wall might collapse if they will not make a passageway for water,” said Candelaria.
