• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
In an effort to prevent flooding at the entire La Castellana población, following the catastrophe caused by Typhoon Tino in November last year, the municipal government has tapped a private construction firm – Silver Dragon Construction Company – to conduct river dredging activities.
Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said she and her brother-successor, Mayor Anejo Nicor, met on Saturday with philanthropist Jerry Sy, president and CEO of Silver Dragon Construction Company, to finalize plans for the dredging activities, which will be at no cost to the municipal government.
Vice Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan said they are aiming to restore the original course of the water by dredging the river.
The municipal government already sought a special permit from the Provincial Environment and Management Office (PEMO) for the dredging activities, in tandem with the private construction company.
The recent floods at the La Castellana población was attributed to the altered course of the La Castellana river, where more than 300 houses along its riverbanks were washed away when Typhoon Tino battered central Negros
When a river breaks free of its channel and carves a new path across the landscape, devastating floods may descend upon communities with little to no warning, which took place in La Castellana in November last year.
The La Castellana municipal government has declared riverbanks as no build zones, through an ordinance approved by its Sangguniang Bayan.
Among the 300 affected families, Nicor-Mangilimutan said 138 of them are now staying at evacuation centers, along with families affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
The materials taken from the dredged river will be used in various infrastructure projects, the vice mayor added.*
