Revive Pampanga River Control System - Solons
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third Dis trict Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales and Fourth District Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc have written the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to look into several House resolutions which calls for the revival of the Pampanga River Control System (PRCS).
House Bill No. 69 is a resolution that called for the revival of the Pampanga River Control System and called for budget appropriation by the DPWH.
Bondoc had earlier introduced House Resolution No. 134 which also called for the revival of the Pampanga River Control System.
Bondoc told SunStar Pampanga that the revival of the PRCS is very critical and important as it will undertake all major programs and projects to address the biggest problem not only of Pampanga, but the whole of Central Luzon.
He added that through the resolution, all waterways and tributaries leading to the Pampanga River and Manila Bay will be opened and widened to ensure free-flow of floodwaters from the upst r eam.
Bondoc disclosed that the resolution also called for the inclusion of PRCS programs and operations in the yearly budget of the DPWH.
DPWH has expressed support for the revival of the Pampanga River
Control System (PRCS), which used to be an attached agency of the department 20 years ago, to prevent flooding in Central Luzon.
The DPWH, in a position paper, recommended that the PRCS would just be integrated Unified Project Management Office - Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) as the said office is already mandated to address issues of flooding along the Pampanga River.
On the other hand, House Bill No. 5088 was introduced by Rep. Gonzales for the creation of a river control system commission not just for Pampanga but for the whole provinces in Central Luzon.
Gonzales proposed that the commission will be under the control and supervision of the Secretary of the DPWH, independent and autonomous of the Office of the Regional Director of the DPWH in Region III.
The commission is tasked with the identification of the causes of flooding and formulation of solutions that would effectively mitigate if not prevent the flooding problems of Central Luzon on a long-term basis.
Both Gonzales and Bondoc said they are awaiting the action of the DPWH on the best way to approach the House Resolution and the House Bill to consolidate action on the flooding problems in Pampanga and the regi o n .