Treñas wants resumption of Dungon creek dredging
City Mayor Jerry Treñas wants the resumption of the dredging works on Dungon creek particularly on areas without mangrove plantations.
The dredging of the Dungon creek which covers 13 barangays in La Paz and Jaro is a flood-mitigating measure of the government. It will be implemented in different phases as what has been agreed upon by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the city government.
The dredging was stopped last August after the contractor WT Go destroyed some 100 mangroves of different species in its clearing operation along the Bolilao creek in Mandurriao.
Findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Reesources (DENR)–Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) showed that there was negligence on the part of the contractor. The cutting of mangroves is prohibited by Philippine laws.
Treñs suggested the dredging works must continue in areas with no mangroves in order not to further delay the implementation of the project. He will set a meeting with the technical working group and the DENR-EMB to address the problem.
The dredging works is one of the priority projects of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Iloilo City. In her recent visit to Iloilo City, the President asked regarding the project. She wants all the projects finished by December 2009, said Treñas.