The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now working on the design plan for the initial major project proposal to address the flooding woes in Bulacan and Pampanga.
DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan said they have commissioned the planning and engineering consulting firm Woodfields Consultants Inc. to undertake the comprehensive formulation of the effective and efficient plan for the Pampanga River Basin in Central Luzon, one of the areas most frequently affected by flooding.
Bonoan said Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain met with the Woodfields consultants where it was agreed for the need to come up with a single plan for Central Luzon - Pampanga River Floodway Flood Control Project with retarding swamp in San Antonio Swamp and the Pampanga Delta Development Program Phase 2.
The satellite office of DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) in Sulipan, Apalit, Pampanga was also participated by DPWH UPMO Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, UPMO Project Managers Isabelita Manalo, Edgar Jiao, and Edison Olalia and Project Manager Maximo Bulanadi of Woodfields Consultants Inc.
The proposed flood engineering interventions included the widening of river channels and construction of viaduct, dikes, revetment works, cut-off channel, control weirs, floodgates and sluice gates.
Sadain pointed out that the project components of the proposed flood control plan with design consideration of 100-year flood return period will capture the entire flood mitigation for Central Luzon from Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan.
Situated in Central Luzon, the Pampanga River Basin from the mouth of Manila Bay traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.
Other major river networks connected to the Pampanga River Basin are Talavera River, Rio Chico River, Pantabangan River, Colonel River, Peñaranda River, Sacobia River, San Miguel River and Angat River. (Chito A. Chavez)