Iloilo flood control project still top priority of gov't
Public Works and Highways Regional Director Rolando Asis said in a PIA interview that the government of President Arroyo, still considers the Iloilo Flood Control Project (IFCP) among its priorities, despite the seemingly slow progress it is making.
Director Asis also said that the DPWH being the lead agency in the implementation of the project has monitored its progress and coordinated with various agencies involved, so that the project can smoothly take off.
He added that the Resettlement Component was almost completed, with only one relocation area in Barangay Sooc, to be fully developed for the relocatees to occupy.
The civil works component is in the initial stages, with the contractors for Pavia and Iloilo City river areas starting to put up their offices and facilities and conducting preliminary ocular surveys of the communities directly and indirectly affected by the construction work.
Asis further said that the communities to be affected by the construction in terms of environmental hazards, diggings, and other disturbances, are already prepared for such, while the DENR has looked into the environmental compliance requirements of the activity.
Meanwhile, working side by side with the DPWH is the Information Management Group (IMG) which has been touching base with the residents of the affected barangays to make them actively participate in the activities being undertaken in support of the IFCP.
Dr. Felixberto Roquia, Media Consultant, said that so far, there were five community participation workshops completed with the barangay officials which yielded results upon which the sustained Information, Education and Communication activities will take roots.
Roquia said that during the period from June till early July, the IMG is conducting a series of IEC workshops to identify approaches which are barangay-based so that when the project takes full swing and at the time it is completed, the people themselves will be equipped to sustain the gains of the IFCP.
(PIA 6/ES Subong)