P95M available for Pampanga dike repair

ARAYAT, Pampanga—Two sections of the 36-kilometer Arnedo Dike that were damaged by strong currents when Typhoon “Nona” struck Central Luzon in December, will be repaired starting Monday at an initial cost of P95 million, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Antonio Molano, DPWH Central Luzon director, said the agency is spending P45 million to fix a 58-meter segment of the dike that collapsed in Barangay Cupang here.

He said P50 million has been allocated for the 100-meter segment that was washed out in Barangay Santo Tomas in the neighboring town of San Luis.

Molano had advised the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council about these emergency projects to get exemptions from the infrastructure ban that takes effect in February when the campaign season for the election starts.

Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda said the provincial government has allocated P2.4 million as financial assistance for 12 families who need to be relocated from the damaged Cupang segment.

“If you won’t repair the Cupang portion as soon as possible, flooding will spread up to the City of San Fernando,” she told DPWH officials. “The safety of our river bank communities is at stake,” she added. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon