Concern for Tinagong Dagat raised
ROXAS CITY – A concerned citizen has renewed its call for the government to give importance to the rehabilitation of the Tinagong Dagat located in Pontevedra, Capiz to avert future disasters.
Tinagong Dagat in Pontevedra is the mouth or water way of Panay river to the sea which has already deteriorated due to the siltation caused by soil erosions.
Provincial Sheriff Blas Nolasco, Jr., who is a native of Panay, Capiz, expressed his concern and reminded the government to resolve the problem on Tinagong Dagat which commonly result to frequent floodings in the city.
Nolasco, son of former Board Member Blas Nolasco, Sr. now Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Butacal, Panay, Capiz, said that Panay and Pontevedra are considered as flood prone areas.
Last month, Nolasco wrote a letter to Capiz Gov. Victor, Sr. to act on the Tinagong Dagat problems prompting the governor to forward the letter to Board Member Nonoy Contreras as the latter informed his colleagues through privilege speech.
It was learned that the problem was referred to the concerned committee where some of its members suggested that the Tinagong Dagat be dredged. The dredging machine which was purchased during the stint of former Gov. Esteban Contreras is already dilapidated that should need repair.
In 1995, illegal dikes of fishponds were dismantled through dynamites to clear the water ways however, Nolasco said that it worsened since soil erosions took place.
It was also learned that Task Force Tinagong Dagat was formed to solve the problems of the said water ways to resolve frequent flash floods, however, it cannot be confirmed if the said task force still exists.
