President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, had been asked to provide assistance and funding support for the implementation of a Comprehensive Creek and Waterway Rehabilitation and Restoration Program to mitigate flooding and reduce the impact of high tide in Dagupan City’s low-lying barangays.

This was contained in Resolution No. R-069 adopted by the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod during its March 9 regular session on the motion of Councilors Michael Fernandez and Jeslito Seen.
The resolution took note that Dagupan is a coastal and riverine city intersected by numerous rivers, creeks, and natural waterways that serve as essential drainage systems for rainwater runoff and tidal flow.
Additionally, a significant portion of the city’s barangays are situated in low-lying areas and are highly vulnerable to flooding caused by heavy rainfall, tidal surges, and the gradual deterioration of natural drainage channels.
Both Councilors Fernandez and Seen observe that years of siltation, encroachments, improper waste disposal, and lack of large-scale rehabilitation efforts have reduced the carrying capacity of many creeks and waterways in the city, causing water to overflow into residential communities, public roads, and commercial districts.
Admitting that the magnitude and technical requirement of a comprehensive creek rehabilitation program requires substantial financial resources, the SP deemed it proper to ask the support and assistance of the national government under the leadership of President Marcos.
With the help of the national government, the implementation of sustainable flood control and environmental rehabilitation measures that are vital to the long-term resilience and development of the city can be undertaken, given that the city does not have sufficient funds to bankroll the initiative.
According to the SP, the move is consistent with the national government’s commitment to disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, environmental protection, and infrastructure development to safeguard coastal communities.

Noting that rivers and creeks in Dagupan were encroached upon across the years, Councilor Luis Samson Jr. asked DPWH to restore these waterways to their original depth and width to minimize flooding in the city as he again requested the city engineering office to conduct an inventory of existing creeks as well as those already dead creeks in the city. Leonardo Micua