Treñas asks DENR, DPWH to resolve dredging issue at Dungon Creek

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) to immediately resolve the issue on dredging of the Dungon Creek here and four other creeks that were identified to impede the flow of water.

Treñas said that aside from the Dungon Creek, the other waterways that need immediate attention are the Calajunan Creek in Manduriao district, Ingore Creek in La Paz, Buntatala Creek in Jaro and the Iloilo River.

These are the city’s main waterways and dredging of these creeks and the river will greatly solve the perennial flashflood of the city environs as there is an urgent need to declog the waterways, the city mayor said.

On the other hand, the multi-billion pesos Iloilo floodcontrol project is set to be operational by December this year but will full completion by April 2010.

Treñas said this assured by DPWH project management office to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in one of her visit to Iloilo last month.

The city mayor said a budget of P50 million was initially released by the national government for the dredging of Dungon Creek but the project was stalled when environment advocates criticized the government for cutting down age-old bakawan mangrove trees at the creek.

Treñas said the DENR should immediately settle the issue so that the DPWH can proceed with the dredging works.

He said that dredging of the Dungon Creek is vital since it overflowed and submerged several barangays of Manduriao under murky water for several days as a result of devastation caused by Typhoon Frank in June 2008.

Treñas said the dredging of at least five waterways is a must, considering that these are vital drainage tributaries of the floodcontrol project. He said the city government has already done its share of relocating families along the creek by providing relocation sites.