Declogging of EB Magalona rivers to start soon

By Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – Mayor Marvin Malacon said the declogging and desiltation of the Madalag, Malogo and Imbang Rivers in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental will start soon to address the perennial problem of flooding.

Malacon said the project is implemented through a public-private partnership without costing the local government a single centavo.

“It’s all systems go,” he added

Malacon said a public hearing was held at the EB Magalona municipal hall last week by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“It received overwhelming support from Saraviahanons, but a few environmentalists, who are not town residents, questioned it,” he added.

Malacon also said that they are waiting for the release of the Environment Compliance Certificate from DENR as he expects that the project will start by the second quarter of this year.

He lamented that during heavy rains or high tide, some low-lying barangays in EB Magalona suffer or experience flooding.

The First Terradev Corp. (FTC) and Geo Alto are the implementers of the project, while the government makes the plans and directs it, Malacon further said.

Hevalso said that the dredging ship with about 30 Chinese nationals on board is on its way to the Philippines after undergoing quarantine in Singapore.