MASANTOL - Due to the coastal nature of Masantol town, it is always prone and threatened by strong tropical cyclones, typhoons, and storm surges.
Masantol is located at the southern most part of Pampanga and is surrounded by the Pampanga River. Its tail barangay, Sapang Kawayan, is considered the boundary of the Rio Grande de Pampanga and the Manila Bay.
Without proper protection such as dikes and breakwaters, part of Masantol’s community, particularly the left bank portion which covers at least six villages, might vanish from the Philippine map once strong surges brought about by strong typhoons hits its grounds.
During the early 2000’s, the government together with residents here constructed a spur dike at the boundary of this town and Bulacan province. The infrastructure is made to protect the six barangays namely Alauli, Balibago, Sagrada, Bagang, Nigui and Sapang Kawayan.
However, when Typhoon Glenda hit the country in 2014, one of the infrastructures it damaged is the Masantol spur dike where its foundation was heavily devastated. From then, the spur dike quickly deteriorated, especially when the typhoon season is on, said former vice-mayor now Coastal Emergency Response Officer Marcelo “Bajun” Lacap, Jr.
Due to its deterioration, the villages in the left bank portion, including churches and school communities, experienced year-round knee-deep flooding.
“Buong taon ‘yan, bababa o tatataas pero hindi mawawala. Ang mga estudyante sinusuong ang tubig baha para makapag-aral. Kami dito nasanay na, parang naging parte na nang buhay namin ang baha. Tutal sanay naman kami sa tubig dito sa kailugan,” he said.
But the situation need not last longer as residents and the local government here led by Mayor Danilo Guintu started providing interventions to save their community from further deterioration, and worst, disappearance.
Lacap said the residents here, through the assistance of the Parish Pastoral Council, came together and practiced the old Filipino spirit “bayanihan” to raise funds that will be used to reconstruct the spur dike.
Bayanihan, derived from the Filipino word “bayan” meaning “community”, refers to the spirit of communal unity and cooperation. It was practiced by old Filipinos usually to relocate one’s house but is now manifested in many forms by the new generation.
Lacap said that the residents were able to raise some P45,000 to rehabilitate the infrastructure which will serve as protection from storm surges.
The funds were augmented by Guintu who allocated P250,000 to ensure that the spur dike will be strong and will serve its purpose of protecting the community, Lacap added.
He also noted of numerous private organizations and individuals who shared their resources as assistance to the project, raising a total of around P350,000 funds.
The funds will be used to upgrade the dike and strengthen its foundation to once again serve its purpose for the community.
Through the bayanihan spirit, the one-kilometer spur dike is once again established. With its strong base and structure, Masantol just saved itself from experiencing high-tide flooding and other calamity devastation.
