Amidst severe flooding in Central Luzon, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. conducts an aerial inspection on affected areas by the recent typhoons in this file photo. (Photo from the Office of the President)
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte — Following President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Romualdez Marcos Jr.’s directive for a thorough study on the proposed construction of an impounding system in Candaba, Pampanga, Climate Change Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz Sr. expressed his support to the proposal, saying the project would contribute considerably in resolving the lingering problem of massive flooding in Central Luzon.
During a meeting with local officials, the chief executive had stressed the need to study the proposal as a long-term solution to the flooding problems in Pampanga and nearby provinces even as he allayed the fears of local government units (LGUs) over the impact of the construction on people’s livelihood in the area, particularly that of palay farmers in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Bulacan.
The Candaba impounding system project was actually proposed by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Rogelio Singson in 2013 but local officials had opposed it because they believe the project would affect more than 9,000 residents in Candaba whose lives would be drastically disrupted because there were no measures apparently outlined for their welfare.
Despite this, however, the President has now allayed the misgivings expressed by local government chief executives (LGCEs) who were apprehensive over the impact of the construction of the impounding facility on their constituents.
“Do not worry when it comes to the LGUs. Kayo naman ay hindi namin basta . . . sasagasaan na lang iyong project. Hindi namin gagawin iyon (We will not let the project affect you. We will not do that),” he enthused during his meeting with the LGUs in the area.
The chief executive likewise assured them that those who will be displaced by the proposed project would be relocated to other areas where they would be provided with all their needs.
Commissioner Dela Cruz recently visited Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, where he discussed with local officials to transform the well known trade hub into an ‘Ecopolis’ or Green City, and as of press time, he is now in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte to meet with students and the youth to inculcate in them the significance of their involvement and active participation in the government’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and global warming.
He spelled out that the establishment of the impounding system facility, or what he has described as a total water ecosystem, would not only be beneficial in flood prevention but also in providing an additional water source for the National Capital Region (NCR) and outlying areas.
“Makakatulong din ito sa pangangalaga ng ating biodiversity sa Candaba swamp at maaaring din itog maging lugar para sa ecotourism tulad ng La Mesa Nature Reserve sa Quezon City,” Dela Cruz pointed out in the vernacular. (ai/mnm)
