The Department of Public Works and Highways has started desilting the Digmala river in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija to prevent the river from overflowing that may cause flooding in several towns in that province.
DPWH Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office engineer Ricardo Puno said the desilting is expected to prevent the recurrence of river overflow that causes flooding in low-lying areas in the town of Bongabon and its surrounding areas.
“Silt deposits washed down from the mountainous sections of Aurora and Nueva Ecija to Digmala River led to decrease in water depth, thereby increasing the risk of overflow and flooding,” he said.
When completed, the desilting of Digmala River will protect the low-lying villages not just of Bongabon, but also other flood-prone areas near Pampanga River.
The Digmala River is one of the allied rivers and tributaries of the 260-kilometer Pampanga River that traverses the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga.