After Typhoon Odette wreaked havoc and inundated swaths in Bohol, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is planning to recommend the dredging of the Loboc River to prevent or mitigate flooding within its vicinity.
According to Magiting Cruz, DPWH 3rd Engineering District chief, they will be requesting the conduct of a feasibility study on the mulled anti-flood measure.
“Partially, nag-conduct na kami ng survey diyan and then we will be requesting from Manila [office] for the feasibility study para long term na siya. At kung ano ang result ng feasibility study, para malaman din natin ang cause ng flooding diyan sa Loboc,” said Crus in an interview over station dyRD on Wednesday.
Cruz said they will also need an approval from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should they decide to proceed with the dredging project.
“Pwede yan [dredging] with the clearance of the DENR. Yung dredging sa region will be requested. If ever, need na okay sa DENR, syempre kasi may e-extract talaga tayo sa river kaya minsan din nila ina-allow,” he added.
Cruz said that dredging would be more likely to be implemented over the opening of a diversion channel to ease flooding.
He noted that the diversion channel would only be temporary solution as water would still end up going back to its original stream.
“Ang tubig po talaga especially kung ilog siya, kung saan yung daanan ng tubig ng ilog, doon talaga siya. So if ever mag-divert ta ng tubig, darating din yung panahon na babalik siya doon sa origin niya,” Cruz said.
Loboc was among the worst hit areas in terms of flooding when “Odette” barreled through the province on December 16 leading to evacuation of hundreds of families and leaving several residents stranded on rooftops for over a day. (R. Tutas)