QUEZON CITY – Deemed as needing immediate action by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, Gugu Dike in Bacolor, Pampanga gets first priority status in the rehabilitation efforts to fully restore the historic town to its old glory.
This, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday ordered its Central Luzon office to immediately repair the dike.
In a special meeting at the DPWH’s Road Board office here, Public Works Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. gave the marching order for the Gugu Dike rehab to Regional Director Alfredo Tolentino repair the Gugu Dike “without hampering the flow of traffic in the area.” Ebdane made the order based on the recommendation of Tolentino who was joined by other regional directors and officials in the meeting initiated by Arroyo.
Tolentino disclosed that heavy rains last year damaged Gugu Dike which adversely affected several villages and the Bacolor the town proper. He said that an initial P50-million could be used to repair the damaged portions of the dike.
“The President has personal interest in (the rehabilitation of Bacolor). We must do something about it fast,” said Ebdane. He disclosed that Arroyo had ordered him to lead the meeting for a “quick action” on Bacolor.
Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, who authored House Bill 3380 which embodied the Bacolor Rehabilitation Law, expressed elation over the “collective decision” to implement initial projects amounting to P350 million.
Arroyo had set aside P10 million for the master plan for the comprehensive rehabilitation of Bacolor, once dubbed as the “Athens of the Pampanga” and capital of the country at the time of the British invasion in the 1600s.
But Gonzales said Arroyo had wanted initial projects implemented even before the completion of the master plan.
“This is no political promise here. Only the best intentions for Bacolor and its people,” said Gonzales.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Remigio Mercado, who was designated as head of the Bacolor Rehabilitation Council, disclosed that “only three” out of the 10 initial projects had not been funded. These are the construction of dormitories at the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade (DHVCAT) and at a training center and the repair of the Bacolor municipal hall. He added that seven other projects concentrated on repair of roads, dikes, hospitals and schools had received funding.
“Ang bilis ng proyekto. This is great,” said Mercado.
DPWH Undersecretary Pie Yabut, who hails from Pampanga, had been invited by Ebdane to attend the meeting “and share his views.”
Last September, Arroyo signed into law the Bacolor Rehabilitation Council (BRC) whose main objective is the complete rehabilitation of this town which was buried by lahar, volcanic ash and debris in the aftermatch of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
The Senate version of the bill, which was unanimously approved on third and final reading last Sept. 8, was authored by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, chairman of the Senate committee on local government.
Under the bill, about P1.5 billion in special funds will be allocated in the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the rehabilitation of the lahar-ravaged town.
This, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday ordered its Central Luzon office to immediately repair the dike.
In a special meeting at the DPWH’s Road Board office here, Public Works Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. gave the marching order for the Gugu Dike rehab to Regional Director Alfredo Tolentino repair the Gugu Dike “without hampering the flow of traffic in the area.” Ebdane made the order based on the recommendation of Tolentino who was joined by other regional directors and officials in the meeting initiated by Arroyo.
Tolentino disclosed that heavy rains last year damaged Gugu Dike which adversely affected several villages and the Bacolor the town proper. He said that an initial P50-million could be used to repair the damaged portions of the dike.
“The President has personal interest in (the rehabilitation of Bacolor). We must do something about it fast,” said Ebdane. He disclosed that Arroyo had ordered him to lead the meeting for a “quick action” on Bacolor.
Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, who authored House Bill 3380 which embodied the Bacolor Rehabilitation Law, expressed elation over the “collective decision” to implement initial projects amounting to P350 million.
Arroyo had set aside P10 million for the master plan for the comprehensive rehabilitation of Bacolor, once dubbed as the “Athens of the Pampanga” and capital of the country at the time of the British invasion in the 1600s.
But Gonzales said Arroyo had wanted initial projects implemented even before the completion of the master plan.
“This is no political promise here. Only the best intentions for Bacolor and its people,” said Gonzales.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Remigio Mercado, who was designated as head of the Bacolor Rehabilitation Council, disclosed that “only three” out of the 10 initial projects had not been funded. These are the construction of dormitories at the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade (DHVCAT) and at a training center and the repair of the Bacolor municipal hall. He added that seven other projects concentrated on repair of roads, dikes, hospitals and schools had received funding.
“Ang bilis ng proyekto. This is great,” said Mercado.
DPWH Undersecretary Pie Yabut, who hails from Pampanga, had been invited by Ebdane to attend the meeting “and share his views.”
Last September, Arroyo signed into law the Bacolor Rehabilitation Council (BRC) whose main objective is the complete rehabilitation of this town which was buried by lahar, volcanic ash and debris in the aftermatch of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
The Senate version of the bill, which was unanimously approved on third and final reading last Sept. 8, was authored by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, chairman of the Senate committee on local government.
Under the bill, about P1.5 billion in special funds will be allocated in the 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the rehabilitation of the lahar-ravaged town.
