Clogged waterways, broken dredger blamed for floods

MANILA, Philippines - Clogged waterways and a broken dredging machine contributed to the floods in Subic and Olongapo City in Zambales, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) told Malacañang yesterday.

The DPWH is still looking into other possible reasons why floodwaters hit record-high levels following several days of monsoon rains.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson informed the Palace that a dredging machine was on standby in Olongapo City, but it has not been operational since 2011 because of unavailability of spare parts.

Valte said the dredger apparently is an old model and its converter module conked out in August 2011.

She said the DPWH is considering hiring a private company to do the dredging. The Palace official said they were not sure whether this could be the reason for the flooding in Olongapo and Subic from Sunday to Monday.

She said they would have to check reports that the Calaclan River in Olongapo had not been dredged since 2010.

“It’s not just the dredging that is the solution. Maybe the knee-jerk solution to any siltation in a river is desiltation and dredging. But, as what Secretary Singson always says, there is a need to widen the waterways,” Valte said.

Apart from the defective dredging machine, Singson said the informal settlers contributed to the flooding, as he noted that the DPWH should not be blamed for the floods and landslides.

Singson said since last year, a geohazard map showed that the area was prone to landslides yet the informal settlers continued to live on this slope.

“Unfortunately the rains and the high tide came simultaneously. I am not putting blame on anyone. All I am saying is that let us do our part in clearing the waterways. Apparently there are points there in the rivers that are fully squatted. There are informal settlers living below one of our bridges,” he said.

Valte said the widening of waterways is usually hampered by structures built along banks, particularly of the Calaclan River.

She said the DPWH depends on the help of the local government in clearing the waterways.

Valte said the DPWH tried to find a spare part for the dredging machine but their search was futile.

“Secretary Singson will be looking into the situation. I would defer to his opinion on whether the cause of the flooding is really the lack of dredging in Calaclan River,” she said.

DPWH Central Luzon director Antonio Molano Jr. said there were two rivers, including the Calaclan, that were often dredged.

He said for years these rivers were dredged regularly until the dredging machine broke down in August 2011.

“The dredging machine’s converter module broke down and we have searched for its spare parts but we could not find any in the market,” Molano said.

The rivers had since accumulated silt due to wave movements and lahar from Mt. Pinatubo.

A sandbar formed at the mouth of the river and blocked the water.

Singson said he has discussed with Molano the option of hiring a private dredging company. He instructed him to prepare a work program and determine the scope and volume involved.

Valte gave assurance that the dredging would be addressed and that they are also counting on stakeholders to prepare their constituents and communities.

She said the challenge now involved heavy rains and not just typhoons that bring strong winds.

“And count not just on national government, but on the local government, the communities and the constituencies there to take the necessary precautions,” Valte said.

She said other problems like illegal logging and black sand mining operations in Zambales would have to be verified.

No blame game

Valte said this is not the time for finger-pointing as local officials were blaming the national government for alleged lack of assistance. She said Social Welfare and Development regional director Lina Apostol and soldiers from the 24th Infantry Battalion were on the ground on Monday to help the flood victims.

Valte said they made sure that officials from the national government were present in affected areas to assist residents.

Subic Mayor Jefferson Khonghun has reportedly blamed President Aquino for stopping the release of pork barrel for the desiltation. “We’re not inclined to engage in finger-pointing as there are 69,747 that need help. We would rather focus first on them and discuss accountabilities later,’ Valte said. – With Evelyn Macairan