TACLOBAN CITY— The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office is intensifying dredging operations in key waterways across Samar and Leyte to reduce the risk of flooding during the rainy season.
These ongoing efforts by DPWH regional office aim to address the persistent threat of flooding in Eastern Visayas, ensuring safer and more resilient communities during adverse weather conditions
According to reports from the DPWH RO8 Equipment Management Division (EMD), multiple amphibious excavators have been deployed to address siltation in various major rivers and creeks.
DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon emphasized the importance of these operations in preventing rivers from overflowing.
“With the weather conditions here in our region, these dredging operations are crucial to mitigating flooding, especially during the rainy season,” he said.
This include the Maroyondoyon and Kaglangkoy Creek in Catarman, Northern Samar; Bangon River in Palo, Leyte; Taytayan River in Baybay City, Leyte; and Calbiga River in Calbiga, Samar.
Six waterways in Hilongos, Leyte, are also being subjected to dredging operation, the DPWH said.
Meanwhile, desilting activities in Tacloban City have already been completed. The Burayan Creek saw the removal of 53,958.39 cubic meters of silt, while 49,653.39 cubic meters of silt were cleared from the Mangonbangon River.
The Pagsanga-an River in Ormoc City, also in Leyte, is also slated for dredging, pending the issuance of a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the DPWH Leyte 4th District Engineering Office.
(LIZBETH A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA)
