LUBAO, Pampanga — “It’s a critical situation if we don’t act quickly. But rest assured that this will be attended to by the government, including NIA and DPWH.”
Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Friday, July 25, personally made a personal assessment of the damaged dike road in Barangay Sta. Rita here, a day after Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda raised alarm over the imminent danger to life, property, and livelihood of the surrounding communities.
The governor called on the DPWH and the National Irrigation Authority to carry out immediate measures on the eroded slope of the dike near the Sto. Cristo Dam which is under NIA management.
Following the on-site assessment, Bonoan confirmed that NIA, in coordination with the provincial government, is prepared to carry out immediate and necessary repairs and rehabilitation works on the affected sections of the dike.
Among the immediate measures the governor called for on Thursday was sheet pile shoring where interlocking steel or concrete sheets are driven into the ground to create a continuous wall for earth retention and support in eroded areas.
In addition to the Sta. Rita dike road, the agencies are also working on damaged dikes in the municipalities of Floridablanca and Guagua, which were similarly affected by heavy rains.
Bonoan also expressed full support to Governor Pineda’s appeal for extensive desilting and dredging operations in Pampanga’s waterways, particularly the Pampanga River.
“I completely agree with the good governor — we truly need dredging and desilting of our rivers, not just here in Pampanga but across the country. This is one of our biggest challenges since many of our riverbeds have already become shallow,” he added.
Coordination among DPWH, NIA, and the Provincial Government of Pampanga remains ongoing to ensure swift, effective, and long-term solutions to restore damaged infrastructure in the province.
Bonoan was joined during the inspection by provincial engineering office head Engr. Noli Pangan, provincial government environment and natural resources office chief Arthur Punsalan, and officials from the regional offices of DPWH and NIA.
Pampanga PIO
