Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda led the inspection of clogged drains along Jose Abad Santos Avenue, specifically in the intersection at Brgy. Dolores in the City of San Fernando, and oversaw the cleaning and unclogging of the same at the height of the rains on Tuesday morning, September 3.
Gov. Delta was accompanied by PDRRMO Chief Angelina Blanco , Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) head Engr. Olympio Pangan and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Regional Director Melquiadez Sto Domingo.
Personnel from the PEO, the General Services office and DPWH opened and cleaned the canals one by one, taking out accumulated garbage and silt that may be the possible cause of the recent flash floods in the area.
The inspection revealed that the depth of the canals is supposed to be 1.5 meters, but with all the accumulated elements therein, the capacity of the canals to catch rainwater is only 50-60 cm.
According to Gov. Delta, the Capitol has decided to aid in the said inspection and clean-up to heed the recent appeal for action of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and other groups whose business greatly suffer each time a flash flood occurs.
The Governor said that Provincial Engineering Office and DPWH personnel will continue to work together in the next few days to open and clean the canals along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA).
Delta also called on all LGUs and barangay officials to take action and be responsible for the maintenance of drainages in their respective areas to prevent clogging that may lead to flooding during the rainy season.
