INSPECTION, AID DISTRIBUTION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday (Oct. 4, 2024) visits Ilocos Norte to inspect the areas hit by Super Typhoon Julian and lead the distribution of assistance to affected individuals. Marcos also conducted an aerial inspection to assess the damage caused by Julian in the province. (Photo from Malacañang Press Corps Pool)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said he would seek the help of big companies and the acquisition of equipment from China and Taiwan to desilt the rivers in Ilocos Norte.
Marcos made the remarks as he lamented that flood control and river control works like dike and slope protection works along national roads in Ilocos Norte were damaged during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Julian.
“Bakit ang daming nasira sa mga flood control? Matagal na itong mga ito (Why is there so much damage to flood control works. They have been there for a long time). They survived many typhoons and floods already before,” Marcos said during the situation briefing on the effects of the super typhoon at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol in Laoag City.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan told Marcos that the damage was triggered by the overflowing of water and the siltation of riverbeds.
During his visit to Ilocos Norte, Marcos conducted an aerial inspection of typhoon-hit areas in the province and inspected the damaged Gabu dike.
He was “surprised” to see the massive siltation of rivers in the province.
“Grabe na pala yung siltation dito (The siltation here is really bad). We have to do something. We will learn something. I will talk to anyone who can help us. We have to do something. We’ll figure something out. I’ll talk to whoever can help us,” he said.
“I don’t remember the rivers being that shallow before. I’ve never seen them this shallow in all the time that I spent here in Ilocos. They’ve been silted for a long time. May puno na so hindi talaga na-dredge (There’s already a tree so it was not really dredged). I think that’s the main problem that we are facing. It’s the siltation and that is what causing all of this damage that we are seeing,” Marcos added.
Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Bondoc proposed the large-scale dredging of rivers to address the problem.
Bonoan said the DPWH, in its 2025 spending plan, has included the procurement of dredging equipment.
Marcos, however, acknowledged that it would take a long time to fix the siltation of rivers in Ilocos Norte.
“Ang (The) core problem dito (here) is the siltation. And it’s a big problem and we’ll have to do something about it,” he said.
“Anyway, maghahanap ako ng ibang makakatulong sa atin (I would ask for help). I will talk to some of the big companies who specialized, who are doing this. Maybe we’ll have to import desilt equipment from China, from Taiwan, wherever it is,” Marcos added.
Marcos also led the distribution of assistance to 5,800 affected residents in Ilocos Norte under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program. (PNA)
