by Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (November 16) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways here has recommended the sufficient allocation of funds for the rehabilitation and management of the Magat river due to its continuing siltation.

Engr. Rodolfo Torralba,Jr., in-charge of the DPWH southern district said there is a need for the establishment of a Project Management Office (PMO) similar to the major rivers in the country such as the Agno River of Pangasinan and Bicol River of Bicol Region among others.

Torralba made the statement in response to the recent provincial board resolution of Nueva Vizcaya requesting the DPWH to furnish them of data, study and information including its recommendation on the unpredictable upsurge of the tributaries of the Magat River.

"Hopefully one day our dream of having a Magat River Project Management Office will become a reality," he said in its letter.

Torralba said the creation of the Magat river PMO will address the rehabilitation and restoration of the Magat River including its management with proper funding from the General Appropriation Act (GAA).

According to the DPWH, the aftermath of the July 16, 1990 earthquake had changed the characteristics of the Magat River due to overshaking which resulted into rapid siltation, rendering the channel to become shallower than before.

"The shallow channel meanders thereby eroding vast track of residential and agricultural areas and causing considerable damage to infrastructure and flooding of low lying areas in the province," it said.

Local disaster officials officials here also tagged the silted Magat river as the perennial problem during the occurrence of flashfloods due to its continuing siltation specially during heavy rains spawned by the rainy season.