Pampanga solon, LGU issue urgent appeal to DPWH Secretary Dizon
Arayat Mayor Jeffrey Luriz and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Mica Gonzales during the inspection.
Arayat Mayor Jeffrey Luriz and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Mica Gonzales appealed to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to take
swift action on the damaged setback levee of the protective dike in Bgy. Cupang, Arayat, Pampanga, as this critical flood deterrent infrastructure could pose danger and massive damage to thousands of families in several municipalities.
Together with other top municipal and provincial officials and DPWH Regional Office engineers, Mayor Luriz and Cong. Gonzales aired their concern after they conducted a joint an on-site inspection with DPWH officials and engineers of the damaged portions following reports of large cracks on the portions of the set-back levee in Barangay Cupang.
The DPWH Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office in a press statement issued earlier said they are currently addressing the damaged concrete slope protection and newly constructed asphalt overlay concrete road
pavement on the setback levee.
The damage is attributed to structural fatigue from heavy trucks and equipment use as well as natural calamities such as rapid water flow
and scouring that led to soil instability, the DPWH statement said.
Mayor Luriz and Rep. Gonzales suggested the repair of the dike “by administration,” a move that will allow the DPWH to have a direct hand in the repair works. Completed in 2014, civil works on the setback levee in the Barangay Cupang section of the Pampanga River, was
awarded and funded by DPWH to LR Tiqui Construction in the amount of P124 million.
The rehabilitation of the breached dike included slope protection with steel sheet piles along the Apalit-Arayat setback levee in the
Barangay Cupang section of the Pampanga River. Thousands of families from Arayat, Sta. Ana, Mexico, Magalang have benefitted on the rehabilitation works as there have been no major floodings that have occurred since its rehabilitation 11 years ago. (Joey Pavia)
