KALIBO, Aklan — More than a year after rampaging floodwaters lashed various towns along the Aklan River, the National Government, through private contractor, Iloilo Builders Corporation (IBC), has yet to start dredging operations in the heavily silted, flood-prone Aklan River.

Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez said dredging of said river will start once bid winner private contractor IBC submits a revised program of works to the provincial government.

"The dredging and reclaim activities start from the mouth of the river to extract sediments. The dredging operations and deepening of the waterway would minimize the flooding of low-lying areas in Kalibo and Numancia," he said in a radio interview.

Government, through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), funded an initial R100-million for the rehabilitation of the existing Aklan River system in its Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) dated June 3, 2009.

The IBC is to carry out the dredging and clearing of Aklan River after it was awarded the contract by the DPWH three months ago.

Last year, typhoon Frank (international name: Fengshen) brought torrential rains in the province causing the siltation of the Aklan River basin.

To spare families from floodwaters, the provincial government and the Aklan Rivers Development Council are closely coordinating with national agencies for a long-term solution to the massive flooding in the riverbanks.

Flood has become a threat to Aklan's central business district for years.