P100-million Aklan river dredging ongoing, more Aklan projects near completion

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The river dredging operations at the mouth of Aklan River is almost 60 percent completed, according to Provincial Engineer Victory Fernandez.

The dredging works funded for P100-million through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is designed to mitigate the perennial flooding of low-lying communities.

Fernandez said the provincial government also allocated P5-million funds for the additional dredging activities and has fully completed its operations as of August. The P100-million dredging project will be finished in 510 calendar days, he added.
"The local contractor of the multi-million project reported 62 percent accomplishment as of August. The project is expected to be completed by year 2011, but, this could be finished earlier than the scheduled date of completion," the provincial engineer said.

Strong torrential rains brought by Typhoon Frank in 2008 caused the Aklan River siltation and allow floodwaters to enter in the municipalities of Malinao, Lezo, Banga, Libacao, Madalag, Kalibo and Numancia.

Last month, engineers from the DPWH central office coordinated with the Aklan Rivers Development Council and the provincial government of Aklan for the Aklan River basin study.

Meanwhile, road improvement / rehabilitation connecting the roads of Banga to Libacao and Numancia-Lezo-Malinao and Madalag is also implemented by the Provincial Engineers Office. The provincial government, Fernandez said, has earmarked funds for the concreting of portions of the Malinao and Madalag roads in the next few months.

Abaca farmers will soon utilize the Banga-Madalag bridge (Our Lady of Guadalupe bridge) for faster transport of their products to the markets. Fernandez said work on the 190 lineal meter long bridge project that will connect Barangay Daguitan in Banga, Aklan to Barangay Poblacion in Madalag, Aklan was already 25 percent completed, with funding from the President's Bridge Program.

Ongoing two-phases rehabilitation of the Provincial Capitol building for P20-million is 90 percent completed. The drainage project in the town of Kalibo is also ongoing to minimize flooding of Toting Reyes Street near Kalibo Public Market.