DPWH begins dredging of river tributaries in Lingayen

Last week, the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deployed one of its amphibious excavators to the Municipality of Lingayen to address and help alleviate flooding problem in this town.

According to DPWH, Limahong Channel – located along the Agno River – as well as other tributaries in the area are heavily silted and in need of dredging.

The amphibious excavator will dredge silt and soil from river tributaries, starting at the mouth of Limahong Channel going upstream all the way to the Basing River.

“The soil that will be removed during this operation will be used in reclaiming certain areas, enhancing mangrove plantation, and strengthening the riverbank,” Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil said in an interview to the Philippine News Agency on Saturday.

The town, which is the capital and the seat of government of the province of Pangasinan, experienced one of its worst floodings in 2019 when parts of Barangay Poblacion were submerged, including Maniboc and Alviar Streets where water from the river tributaries overflowed.

Kim Paolo Laforteza, the engineer who heads the dredging, said that priority will be the removal of the sandbar that formed at the mouth of the Limahong Channel, hampering free flow toward Lingayen Gulf.