SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Provincial Government here have allotted a combined amount of P75 million for the dredging of clogged waterways in Pampanga and the repair of breached flood control dikes.

The Capitol had long identified the clogging of these waterways as the reason for deep floods in this province during the onslaught of the season of typhoons.

The DPWH office in Region 3 said Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson has pledged P10 million to clear the heavily-silted Pampanga waterways. The fund will be part of the anti-flooding mitigation works in the province.

The government agency earlier allocated a P25-million fund for the cut-off channel of the Pampanga River and slope protection of Arnedo Dike. The Public Works Department also allotted another P10 million for the rehabilitation of dikes which were damaged due to typhoon “Ondoy.”

The Provincial Government, meanwhile, has appropriated some P30 million for the purchase of heavy equipment such as backhoe, dump truck, loader and other needed equipment for the clearing, dredging and declogging of affected waterways.

Governor Lilia Pineda has ordered the purchase of heavy equipment for the year round for the desilting of the river and waterways in the province to prevent perennial flooding.

“Capitol has left over calamity funds of P63 million from the previous administration. This will also be a source of funds for the heavy equipment,” Pineda said.

Pineda also called for the creation of an anti-flood composite team that would work and put their acts together solve flooding.

It was remembered that Pineda asked the DPWH to allot funds for the maintenance and repair of anti-flood systems in the province as three “confining dikes” breached during the onslaught of Tropical Depression Falcon last June.

The breached dikes that need immediate repair are at the Kaulaman River in Floridablanca and two other dikes in Sta. Ana.