P128-M earth dike repair in Pangasinan finished

P128-M earth dike repair in Pangasinan finished

Philippine Daily Inquirer

ROSALES, Pangasinan – The repair of earth dikes along the Agno River and its tributaries that collapsed during the onslaught of Typhoon “Pepeng” last year has been completed, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Monday.

The P128-million project, which began in October, restored 30 breached sections along the river, said Rosauro Peralta, acting chief of the engineering division of the Agno Flood Control System Project Management Office.

With the repair, local officials were hoping that their towns would be spared from severe flooding this rainy season.

Peralta said the dikes would protect 35 towns and cities in central and eastern Pangasinan.

A report from provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC) placed last year’s damage to flood control infrastructure and facilities at P398 million.

The project, which is primarily for flood control, involved filling the gaps along the dikes which collapsed last year.

Peralta, however, said no improvements were made on the dikes. “If the structure was made of earth, then we replaced it with that,” he said.

Despite this, Peralta said he was confident that the repaired dikes could withstand large volumes of water. “Last year was the first time any of the dikes collapsed because the San Roque Dam released over 5,000 cubic meters per second of water,” he said.

The San Roque Dam, located at the Agno River’s upstream, was designed to regulate the river’s flow. But continuous, heavy rains dumped by Pepeng in October last year filled up the reservoir fast, forcing dam officials to release large volumes of water.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...sinan-finished

ALONG AGNO RIVER: Villasis, Rosales want concrete dikes

ALONG AGNO RIVER: Villasis, Rosales want concrete dikes

July 21, 2010

By Yolanda Sotelo

VILLASIS – The mayors of this town and neighbor Rosales asked the national government to concretize the newly-built portions of the dike along Agno River , saying the earth dike could easily give way once heavy rains come.

Mayor Libradita Abrenica said residents have not overcome the trauma they experienced when the entire town was suddenly submerged in meters-deep water in October 2009 when the San Roque dam abruptly eleased excess water at the height of typhoon “Pepeng.”

The breached dikes have been repaired but they have not compacted yet. They also have no protection like concrete or gabion so they can easily be washed out by rain or river water, Abrenica said.

The local government has put graveled the top the dike to stabilize the surface, supposedly a job of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ flood control office.

“But since we cannot wait for the DPWH anymore, we just did it ourselves,” Abrenica said.

There are two portions of the dike along Lipay village, one along Puelay and one along Amanperez, all of which were already restored by the DPWH.

“But these were not properly done. We have asked the flood control office several times to put boulders and gabions along the side, especially on the side of the river, to hold the soil. But there is no action yet,” Abrenica said.

In Rosales, Mayor Ricardo Revita said during heavy rain, the new dikes are being eaten up because they are still “loose.”

“But that is the concern of the Agno Flood Control Office,” he said.

Revita hoped what happened in October 2009 wont happen again because “hopefully, the San Roque dam people already learned their lesson.”

He said when the dam was releasing water last year, he went on top of the Carmen Bridge across the Agno River . I know that the rive can take 2,000 cubic meter per second of water released from the dam, he said.

Rosales and Villasis are separated by Agno River and were both heavily flooded during typhoon “Pepeng” when the dikes on both sides of the river gave way.

Abrenica said the displaced residents have rebuilt shanties along the dikes, which could again weaken the structures.

But it is the Agno Flood Control Office which has jurisdiction over the dikes, she said.

http://northernwatchonline.com/2010/...oncrete-dikes/