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Mayor Belen T. Fernandez (4th from left) and Chief of the construction section of the City Engineering Office Engr. Athena Intal (center) and the City Engineering team conduct a site inspection at Sta. Maria, Bonuan Boquig. The city is partnering with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Housing Authority for the establishment of 362 core shelters in the area for families living in danger zones. (CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)
DAGUPAN CITY – The city, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) will construct at least 362 core shelters in Sta. Maria, Bonuan Boquig for families living in danger zones.
This was requested by Mayor Belen Fernandez to Director Marcelo Castillo Regional Director of the DSWD. The city is also partnering with the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the site development through NHA Regional Director Eduardo Leano while the city government of Dagupan will provide the lot where the 362 houses for at risk families will rise.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez disclosed that the local government is prioritizing the resettlement of Dagupeno families living by the creeks, rivers and other water ways as their lives are always at risk during floods, storm surges, and other calamities.
Prior to the project’s site development, Mayor Fernandez held consultations with residents of Barangays Bonuan Boquig, Mangin, Herrero-Perez, and Pantal and discussed with them on their need to move to a safer location.
The P24,803,848.59 fund was allocated for the backfilling and perimeter riprap as LGU counterpart for the housing project while the NHA Fund for the road and drainage amounts to P9,727,540.22.
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CORE SHELTERS FOR INFORMAL SETTLERS – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez (center), City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Josephine Corpuz (far left) and Chief of the construction section of the City Engineering Office Engr. Athena Intal (3rd from right), together with Kgd. Imelda Gonzales of Barangay Bonuan Boquig (2nd from right) and the City Engineering Team conduct a site inspection at Sta. Maria, Bonuan Boquig in Dagupan City. The construction of the first drainage system in the area will be in preparation for the establishment of more than 300 core shelters in the area for families living in danger zones. (CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)
DAGUPAN CITY – FLOOD FREE BY 2023
Engr. Athena Intal, chief of the construction section of the City Engineering Office, disclosed that side by side with the on site development will be the construction of 1.5km-long drainage system under DPWH worth P37M as the first phase of the project from Sta. Maria road going to Bisal road with Don Maximo Creek as its outlet for run-off water.
The construction of drainage system in at Sta. Maria, Bonuan Boquig is also in line with the local government’s vision for a flood-free Dagupan by the year 2023 with all the completed, on-going and soon to start road infrastructures of the city.
Engr. Josephine Corpuz of the City Planning and Development Office disclosed that the construction of the drainage will be the first in the area, saying: “By 2023, for sure, the entire area of Bonuan Boquig will have drainage systems.”
Corpuz also explained that the projects will help achieve a flood-free Dagupan and in order to achieve this, there should be drainage systems in all areas of the city.
“Mayor Fernandez is really planning for a flood-free Dagupan. This means all roads will be upgraded, have drainage systems and all the creeks will undergo rehabilitation.” said Corpuz.
Meanwhile, Elisa Areniego, a resident of Bonuan Boquig, expressed her gratitude to the city government for making its plans to build drainage systems in the entire city in order to prevent anymore deep flooding.
“We have floods in the area every year, sometimes at waist-level. So, we’re really happy and grateful that Mayor Fernandez is planning to have a drainage constructed here.” said Areniego. (Verdelle De Vera/CIO)
