• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
La Castellana in Negros Occidental has tapped construction firm Silver Dragon Construction Co. to conduct river dredging activities to prevent another massive flooding, following the devastation brought by Typhoon Tino in November last year.
Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said she and her brother, Mayor Añejo Nicor, met with businessman and philanthropist Jerry Sy, president and chief executive officer of Silver Dragon Construction, on March 21.
They finalized plans for the dredging activities, which will be at no cost to the municipal government, she said.
Nicor-Mangilimutan said they are aiming to restore the original course of water by dredging the river.
The municipal government has sought a special permit from the Provincial Environment and Management Office for the dredging activities.
The materials that will be taken out from the dredged river will be used in various infrastructure projects, the vice mayor said.
The recent flooding in the poblacion was blamed on the altered course of La Castellana river, where more than 300 houses along riverbanks were washed away at the height of Typhoon Tino.
The La Castellana municipal government has declared riverbanks as no-build zones, through an ordinance.
Of the 300 affected families, 138 are now staying in evacuation centers aside from the families affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption. | GB
