Paglaum Fund signals start of P50M dredging project

ILOILO CITY – The approval of the P8 billion Paglaum Fund for the rehabilitation of typhoon ravaged areas in Western Visayas brings hope to the city government here which long wanted to dredge up the 3.5 kilometer stretch of Dungon Creek from Manduriao to La Paz district out to the Iloilo River.

City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas disclosed that he went to Manila on Monday, April 27 to observe the Senate deliberation and eventual approval of the Fund sponsored by Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

House Bill 5604 earlier introduced by Iloilo Cong. Arthur Defensor, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Antique Cong. Exequiel Javier was ably supported by Senate Bill 2457 introduced by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Bill 2622 introduced by Senator Mar Roxas in realizing the rehabilitation fund for damaged agricultural areas, infrastructures and education facilities in the region amounting to P14 billion.

Treñas, along with Pavia Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, Presidential Assistant Raul Banias, OCD Reg. Dir. Rosario Cabrera and DPWH Reg. Dir. Rolando Asis attended the Senate deliberation of the Paglaum Fund supported by all senators.

However, Treñas said the Fund will be concretized upon the approval of a new tax measure known as the Simplified Net Income Taxation Scheme (SNITS) introduced by Javier which will become the main source of the Paglaum Fund.

The city mayor said that the overflowed Dungon Creek starting in Manduriao district, was pinpointed as the main cause of flashfloods in Mandurriao and La Paz in last June 21-22, 2008 Typhoon Frank devastation.

Iloilo City is allotted P50 million from the Fund to finance the dredging project that is expected to affect 614 houses along the creek tagged by the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO).

Dredged soil from the creek will be delivered to the nearby Calajunan dumping site as soil topping of a portion of the dumping site earmarked as an ecological park planted with trees and ornamental plants and flowers. .

The city government is currently rehabilitating and improving the city dumpsite and plastic garbage at the old dumpsite are being sent to the Holcim plant in Mizamis Oriental as fuel of a cement manufacturing plant.

Treñas clarified that the dredging project from the Paglaum Fund is a separate project on top of the dredging component of the multi-billion Iloilo flood control project.

by Lydia C. Pendon