Politics · Philippines Bureau
Dredging suspension hampers flood response in Pangasinan
A government engineer has warned that the suspension of river dredging operations is worsening flood conditions in Pangasinan, as heavily silted waterways struggle to handle intense rainfall from the southwest monsoon and typhoons.
LSN Philippines ·
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Department of Public Works and Highways faces a critical challenge as the halt of river dredging activities coincides with increasingly severe flood conditions across Pangasinan province, according to officials monitoring the situation.
The suspension of dredging work has left waterways heavily laden with sediment, reducing their capacity to manage the volume of water discharged by the habagat, or southwest monsoon, and typhoon systems. This reduced drainage capacity has contributed to worsening inundation in affected areas, a government engineer noted Monday.
The dredging pause, apparently imposed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has created a bottleneck in flood management efforts at a time when the province faces heightened precipitation from seasonal weather patterns. Engineers have emphasized the importance of sediment removal to maintain waterway capacity during the rainy season.
The competing priorities between environmental regulations and flood control infrastructure maintenance have highlighted ongoing tensions between the two government agencies responsible for managing the province's water resources and environmental protection.