The Philippines' Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) today began dredging operations on the Gugu River — along the Bacolor-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike in Minalin, Pampanga.
According to DPWH Secretary, Vince Dizon, the measure aims to protect residents from flooding during the rainy season, noting that the riverbed had not been deepened for 15 years.
“I assure our Cabalens (Pampanga residents) that the President will not allow Minalin to experience heavy flooding. We will not allow the dike to be damaged, that’s why we will start dredging the river,” Dizon said.
Also, the DPWH chief noted that heavy equipment was deployed to deepen the river, which serves as a catchment basin.
“We will be conducting dredging operations here, and we are grateful to San Miguel and Sir RSA (Ramon S. Ang) for sending equipment to complement the machine from the DPWH and the province. We will go full steam with the dredging (operations),” he said. “A brand-new dredging machine is on its way and will position it at Sapang Labuan to suction out all the sand, lahar, and silt, discharging them toward Manila Bay.”
The new dredging equipment is set to arrive in the area tomorrow.