Mayor Greg Gasataya, through the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), has acquired an additional mini amphibious excavator to strengthen clearing and rehabilitation efforts along the Mandalagan River.
The mayor emphasized the importance of continued investment in equipment to support the city’s flood mitigation and river rehabilitation programs.
“This may not solve all the problems in our waterways, but we know we are on the right track. There is no reason to stop rehabilitation efforts,” Gasataya said in a city press release May 7.
City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos said the new mini amphibious excavator, along with the recently acquired long-arm excavator and dump truck, worth over P45 million in total, will be used for clearing waterways and removing silt buildup in rivers and drainage systems.
He added that the smaller excavator is designed for use in narrow waterways and under bridges where heavy silt accumulation has been observed.
City engineers are currently assessing barangays to maximize the deployment and use of the new equipment.
From October to December 2025, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) removed about 2,120 tons of silt from the Mandalagan River. A hydrographic survey conducted by the CEO also showed that sediment buildup had reduced the river mouth depth to around one meter.
City officials stressed that sustained flood mitigation and river rehabilitation efforts remain a top priority to protect flood-prone communities. ||
