Pangasinan to Dredge Rivers to Combat Floods, Governor Says

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III on Wednesday (September 2) said the provincial government is pushing for the dredging of major rivers, most of which have become heavily silted, to reduce or eliminate Pangasinan’s seasonal struggles with widespread floods. “We are going for dredging,” he told the Inquirer in a telephone interview. READ: Halting The governor said the move was aimed at improving the flow of water in the rivers and increasing their capacity to prevent inundation. He said that many of the rivers in the province have become shallow due to years of siltation, which is one of the main causes of flooding in the area. Guico III said that the provincial government would spearhead the project as part of its infrastructure development program. He added that the details of the project, including the budget and timeline, would be finalized soon. The Philippines has been experiencing an increase in extreme weather events due to climate change, making flood mitigation a pressing concern for many local governments. The initiative in Pangasinan is expected to serve as a model for other provinces facing similar challenges. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo