CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Stakeholders on weekend raised howlers over a “problem” spotted over the ongoing widening of the Balimbing Bridge along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa).
The concerned observers, led by volunteer flood czar Engineer Marni Castro, said that a platform was constructed by the contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) right in the middle of Balimbing Creek near the bridge, which is now hampering the flow of water as trash and garbage from the upstream have accumulated there.
“In that bridge widening project, they need a platform for their crane so they could drive piles. But instead of constructing the platform at the edges of the bridge, they put it up at the middle of the creek. What is happening now is that trash and garbage have accumulated in the very constricted part of the creek and has hampered the flow of water, not only at Balimbing Creek but from Jose Abad Santos Avenue since their back fill has blocked the outfall near S and R,” Castro said.
“Bakit pinabayaan ng DPWH iyan when in fact, you can put up that platform doon sa dulo. Bakit sa gitna ng creek? Dahil sa continuous flow, nag-pile up, nag-clog at nag-accumulate na ang basura doon. Silted na ito. Paano itutulak ng tubig ito with these thrash and garbage? Mga 12 feet ang taas. May back fill pa. Sa ilalim ng drainage, outfall iyan from Jasa from Landbank to SNR,” he stressed.
Castro added that the DPWH, City Government of San Fernando and the contractor should address the problem immediately or massive flooding may occur in Jasa and parts of San Fernando if it is not corrected.
“Iyung contractor disregarded that and with the ‘character’ of the contractor, I think hindi niya aalisin iyan. So maliit na iyung labasan. DPWH should address this problem. Bakit pinahintulan ng DPWH? May permiso ba ang City Hall? Lahat ng vertical structure dapat may permit iyan as per building code. Maraming concerned ang dapat managot dito sa isang dapat na simple engineering intervention na ito,” he said.
Castro furthered that “economics” could be a factor in the construction of the platform in the middle of the creek.
“It was constructed, in my observation, in the center for economics with complete disregard of public interest. So instead of two cranes, they will be just using one,” he said.
“Is this engineering job meant to create more floods in San Fernando? An engineer with common sense will not do that. They should act on this as soon as possible before this big problem gets worse,” Castro said.
As of Sunday afternoon, VoxPop Pampanga tried but failed to reach DPWH and City Hall officials and the contractor.