The dredging works in Kalaklan River in Olongapo City, Zambales have started to bring the river back to its old form, thus turning it into an effective deterrent against floods.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday, March 17 that it is aiming to remove over 270,000 cubic meters of sand and silt from the river to allow unrestricted passage of runoff water toward Subic Bay.

“We are targeting to remove approximately 273,991 cubic meters of sand and silt that has been deposited from the mountains and residential areas in Zambales and try to restore the waterway to its original depth, maintain accessibility of the channel for boats, and minimize flooding in the city,” Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said.

According to DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino, a cutter suction dredger has been deployed in the river. 

The dredging operations will be implemented in two phases.

The first phase involves the clearing of the waterway of garbage, drifted lumber, coconut, and other large debris that could obstruct the operation of the Wastemaster Classic V dredger while the second part of the project entails the dredging of the river to a depth of three meters with a slope of 45 degrees using a suction pump.

“This 11-month project will be monitored through bathymetric surveys that measure the progress of the depth of the water body, while water will be tracked through water sampling in various locations,” Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, 21 dredging equipment have also been deployed to various areas like Pampanga, Bulacan, and Zambales to improve the water network and prevent flooding in Central Luzon.