Dagupan cathedral’s flood control system eyed as model nationwide

DAGUPAN CITY – Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said he intends to replicate the solution devised by the St. John Cathedral in this Pangasinan city to drain floodwater into a cistern under its parking lot to keep the church and its courtyard dry on rainy days.

Dizon and Pangasinan Fourth District Representative Gina de Venecia visited Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Thursday (September 17) to discuss an initiative to redirect floods down multiple “water detention basins” to be constructed beneath different parts of the city, similar to what the church now utilizes.

READ: DPWH chief cites challenges to flood control projects

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The Cathedral had been flood-free during the six weeks of monsoon rains from the first week of August to the second week of September when most areas of the city, including the  Central Business District, were inundated by heavy floods. 

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Saint John’s management installed a 50×9 wide, 3-meter deep cistern, where excess water is pumped out into the city’s drainage canals.

“We will replicate that in other areas here (and) in the country kasi hindi talaga enough itong pagkataasan ng kalye at pagbabago ng drainage kasi kung walang mapupuntaan ang tubig, bale wala ito, kasi kung walang mapupuntaan ang tubig, maiiwan ang tubig ng tubig sa kalde (because elevating roads beyond flood levels would not be sufficient if the water has nowhere to go),” Dizon said after inspecting road elevation projects in Dagupan. 

(We will replicate that in other areas here and across the country because simply raising roads and changing the drainage system is not enough. If there is nowhere for the water to go, all these efforts will be futile because the water will remain on the streets.)

De Venecia, widow of the late Speaker Jose de Venecia, said the Department of Public Works and Highways would lend pumping equipment to the city government which will be used to suck out floodwaters. “We will look for a place where water would be discharged,” she said.

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Archbishop Villegas said the church solution intends to manage water properly because “this flood can later on be followed by severe and imminent drought (because of this year’s El Niño), so we have to use water more productively.”

According to the discussion, DPWH would first construct two water detention basins – one beneath the city plaza and the other beneath Barangay Lasip Chico. 

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The continuous dredging of the Sinucalan-Pantal River is part of DPWH’s immediate plan. /dp

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia discuss with Lingayen-Archbishop Socrates Villegas the plan to replicate the church’s  flood control system at the St. John Cathedral. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Rep. Gina de Venecia).