A DESILTATION work along Panay River here kicked off , June 19, in Barangay Punta Barra to help address the flooding problem due to siltation and accumulated trash which obstruct the fl ow of water in the area.
The starting point of the dredging operation is an outlet of the stream from the Panay River into the sea.
During a launching program for the much-sought initiative, Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas thanked Capiz
Gov. Fredenil Castro for helping the local government unit’s request to dredge the Panay ] River stretch in the city.
The governor helped in asking the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 6 to ] borrow its dredging machine that will carry out the removal of silt, sediment and garbage in
the river.
It was during the opening program of Roxas City’s 72nd charter anniversary last May 12 when the governor announced that the DPWH’s dredging machine will arrive in the city for the waterways clearing
operation.
The mayor said that the dredging operation, which will cover 10 barangays in the city from Barra to Bato, Banica and Punta Cogon, is also instrumental in aquatic life preservation as pollutants, hazardous substances, and debris are removed from water bodies.
The city’s fisherfolk association is hopeful that the dredging activity will also bring back the glory days of fishing as a livelihood which has been affected by siltation and garbage polluting the river.
“Sang gagmay kami, sa kilid suba lang kami gapangisda damo na kuha pero subong bangud sa basura nagnabaw na ang suba, wala na. (When we were still young, we had plenty of fish catch but now,
we could no longer make it),” said Fisherfolk’s Association president Sheryl Ortega as quoted from Dadivas’ Facebook post.
Aside from the Panay River, all the creeks and waterways in the city will also be cleared from obstructions
to reduce, if not completely address, the impact of flooding.
(PIA Capiz)
