Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday observed on-going dredging operations by the Olongapo City government at Kalaklan River along Subic Bay.

He told the DAILY STAR the dredger being used by Olongapo City is similar to the one the Negros Occidental provincial government plans to buy to address the flooding problems in the province.

The dredger to be ordered from the United States is estimated to cost $1 million, he said.

Marañon was welcomed by Zambales Vice Governor Anne Gordon and Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon during his visit.

Mayor Gordon underscored the importance of their newly acquired dredging machine in solving the heavy siltation in the major rivers of Olongapo City brought by cascading water from the mountains during heavy rain.

The city was beset by abnormal flooding in previous years causing loss of lives and damage to properties but was contained with the arrival late last year of the city’s high pressure dredging machine from the U.S.A, Vice Governor Gordon also told Marañon.

Olongapo City Engineer Bob Alvarez said the suction type dredger equipped with hydraulic excavator cutter head with a positioning boom of 22 to to 30 feet digging depth is so versatile, compact, and powerful that it can easily deliver dredged volume of 200 cubic meters per hour.

Marañon said he was impressed by the heavy duty performance of the Olongapo dredger that the provincial government plans to import the same dredging machine of higher capacity to immediately address the flooding problems in Negros Occidental.*CPG

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