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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Bulacan gov urges gov't to replace Bustos Dam's rubber gates to stop flooding, agri losses

Bulacan gov urges gov't to replace Bustos Dam's rubber gates to stop flooding, agri losses

Published May 5, 2025 10:27 am

At A Glance

  • Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando has appealed to the national government, particularly the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), to take immediate actions in replacing Bustos Dam's rubber gates to prevent further flooding and agricultural losses in the province.
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando has appealed to the national government, particularly the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), to take immediate actions in replacing Bustos Dam’s rubber gates to prevent further flooding and agricultural losses in the province.
“They must act on the immediate removal and replacement of the six rubber gates of the Bustos Dam. If not, the Bulacan government will not hesitate to file civil and criminal cases against those who are involved in this matter," Fernando said during a press conference held in the City of Meycauayan on Sunday, May 4.
He warned that if the remaining rubber gates of Bustos Dam are damaged one after the other, it could adversely impact around 15,706 hectares of rice and vegetable and 12,904 farmers with an estimated loss of P880,964,445 million to P2,690,255,147 billion to the agriculture sector, and could negatively affect 80 barangays from Bulacan and Pampanga with an expected loss of lives in thousands.
Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro added that Bulakenyos have been suffering from the effects of flooding in their communities.
“Kung hindi po ito gagawan ng paraan as soon as possible, ‘yung baha na sinasabi natin at ‘yung mga maaapektuhan ay mas magiging malala pa (If this is not addressed as soon as possible, the flooding we're talking about and the people to be affected will worsen)," Castro said.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reminded residents of Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Paombong that the third gate of Bustos Dam is only a small gateway, thus no immense amount of water would be dispersed.
However, if the continuous flow of water from the broken rubber gate of the Dam is not addressed immediately, the current high tide will worsen the situation.
The PDRRMO said the provincial government is already preparing evacuation centers as part of its preventive measures.
Two years after its rehabilitation in 2018, Bustos Dam's rubber gate on Bay 5 collapsed in May 2020. The remedial measure undertaken by the contractor was cofferdam installation using steel sheets and sandbags. And just recently, on May 1, the dam's rubber gate 3 was also damaged due to extreme heat.
Rubber dams have a life span of 30 years but due to the poor quality of the rubber bladders allegedly used by the contractors, the rubber gates were damaged. The dam's rubber gate 5 collapsed in two years, while its gate 3 burst after seven years.
Fernando urged the NIA to test the materials used in the rubber gates.
In 2016, the late former President Benigno S. Aquino III led the launching of the rehabilitation of Bustos Dam.
The government has allotted P1 billion for the rehabilitation of the dam which was built in 1927.
As the rainy season nears, Fernando expressed fears on the possible danger the dam may pose to the province if the NIA will not act swiftly and invest in standard and sturdy materials.
“Sa ating national government, sa ating NIA, please lang po, nakikiusap po kami, pakinggan n’yo po sana. Huwag po tayong kumilos nang babagal-bagal dahil ang pinakamahalaga po rito ay ‘yung askyon agad. Nakabingit diyan ‘yung milyon-milyong Bulakenyo 'pag nagkataong pumutok lahat 'yan (To our national government, to our NIA, please, we are appealing to you, please listen to our appeal. Please act swiftly because what are at stake here are the lives and livelihood of millions of Bulakenyos if the other rubber gates will burst)," Fernando said.

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