THE metropolis authorities of Marikina, Division of Atmosphere and Pure Assets (DENR), and Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday began the pilot-dredging actions within the initially recognized illegally reclaimed parts of Marikina River to keep away from flooding in low-lying areas within the metropolis.
“As what we’ve been emphasizing, this isn’t merely a dredging exercise on the a part of the DPWH, however this can be a Marikina River restoration exercise, which won’t be accomplished solely in the present day or within the subsequent 65 days however shall be a sustainable exercise,“ mentioned Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, as he expressed confidence the dredging actions will assist them attain a long-term and efficient answer to the perennial downside of flooding within the metropolis.
Teodoro, Atmosphere Secretary Roy Cimatu, Metropolitan Manila Growth Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos Jr., and a consultant from the Division of Public Works and Highways oversaw the dredging in one of many recognized areas in Barangay Olandes.
Primarily based on current land information, the DENR discovered that 25 lot parcels with a complete space of 27 hectares (271, 625 sq. meters) have been reclaimed with out essential permits, both partially or utterly encroaching into the Marikina River.
These parts of the river have been illegally reclaimed, lowering drastically the power of the waterway to comprise extra rainwater throughout typhoons, DENR famous, including that the buildings have been discovered violating Presidential Decree 1067 or the Philippine Water Code.
“We now have mentioned yesterday within the workplace of secretary that the native authorities can also be buying some heavy tools, dredgers, that can be utilized to proceed the dredging exercise,” Teodoro mentioned.
Teodoro reiterated that there’s a have to dredge due to the pure siltation that occurred to the Marikina River, saying, “being a downstream river, after all, what is occurring upstream may also have an effect on downstream.” Citing DPWH knowledge, the mayor mentioned they need to obtain at the very least 4 meters per second of water velocity for Marikina River.
“Dredging shall be accomplished to widen the river, to deepen it, to get the proper ratio of the widening and the deepening of the river in an effort to enhance the water carrying capability of the Marikina River, and thus enhancing its water present velocity,” he mentioned.
Likewise, Teodoro mentioned they’re additionally embarking on a joint endeavor in planting bamboos, which is an appropriate slope safety for the embankment of the river.
With this, he mentioned that the town will construct a 1-hectare bamboo nursery to ensure that the town to not buy bamboos anymore, and have a gradual provide of bamboos they may plant close to the river to stop soil erosion.
“It’s not one thing that we have to purchase that can price the federal government a lot cash, however one thing that we might domesticate collectively in a nursery and within the correct time we might plant collectively,” he mentioned.
By way of the Process Power “Construct Again Higher,” he mentioned, they aren’t solely dredging but in addition restoring the Marikina River to its pure topography.
“Being a downstream river, a catch basin, a valley, it’s pure that Marikina shall be flooded, however the thought actually is to mitigate by way of this exercise by widening and deepening the water channel,” mentioned the mayor.
