CITY OF MALOLOS – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. agreed as Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando recommended additional water reservoirs and water impounding areas in the Province of Bulacan as one of the long-term solutions eyed by the Provincial Government of Bulacan to mitigate flooding occurrences in the province during the Situation Briefing with Select Regional Line Agencies at the Mariano Ponce Hall, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here earlier today.

Fernando proposed additional water reservoir and water impounding areas in the lowlands as some of the PGB’s ways forward aside from its emergency response to dredge rivers and creeks.

“Aside from the Bayabas Reservoir, we respectfully recommend for the additional water reservoir situated in the higher grounds. And as additional precaution, we also recommend the construction of water impounding areas similar to La Mesa Dam. This is to hold the excess water coming from the uplands to avoid overflowing of rivers that might cause flooding. Moreso, the collected waters from the impounding areas can be used latter easily for irrigation purposes,” the governor said.

PBBM agreed to the recommendations and said that Fernando’s proposed long-term solutions for the province matches with the plans of the national government.

“Itong dredging, iyan ang emergecy response natin so kailangan pa rin talaga gawin para at least lumalim ng kaunti ‘yong ilog. But it is not a permanent solution dahil babalik din ‘yong siltation eh. But I think you have identified the better way, the water reservoirs and water impounding areas in the low lands. Iyon ang aming talagang pinaplano,” PBBM said.

In his report to the President, Fernando first identified the main triggering factors that caused massive flooding in the province which includes urbanization and construction of private infrastructure; saturated land due to extensive downpour of rains; lack of masterplan and design in the construction of drainages; and ongoing construction of Manila North Rail Transit.

The governor also reported the current status of various sectors in Bulacan wherein a grand total of P768, 671,475 worth of damages were reported on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, poultry and infrastructure due to flooding and onslaught of the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Typhoons Egay and Falcon.

Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro also called the attention of the Philippine National Railway regarding the ongoing construction of PNR Line in the province that contributed to the prolonged flooding in the towns of Marilao, Santa Maria and other areas since the construction blocked some of the drainage system in the province.

In relation to this, PBBM also pushes for the creation of Water Resources Management Office under the Office of the President which will be tasked to provide leadership in the conservation and judicious use of water as vital agricultural resources in the upland farming communities. (BISHOP JESUS “JEMBA” M. BASCO)

SA HANGARIN na maabot ang mas maraming Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members at marginalized sector, nagdeploy ng kanilang personnel ang More Electric and Power Corporation (More Power) sa mga barangay para tumanggap ng aplikasyon para mabigyan ng diskwento sa singil sa kuryente o ang lifeline rate subsidy sa ilalim ng Epira Law.

Ayon kay More Power President at CEO Roel Castro layon ng kanilang ginawang hakbang na matiyak na mas mapalapit sa marginalized group ang lifeline rate subsidy at marami ang maka-avail nito. “In addition to accepting applications in our office, we also deploy personnel to barangays for on-site registration,” pahayag ni Castro kung saan hanggang nitong Agosto 2 ay nasa 1,519 aplikasyon na ang kanilang natatanggap mula sa 42 barangay. Inabisuhan nito ng mga consumers na palagian lamang bisitahin ang kanilang official Facebook page para sa petsa at lugar ng barangay on-site registration.

Ang full rollout ng aplikasyon para sa subsidy ay pinalawig ng DOE hanggang sa buwan ng Setyembre dahil sa mababang turnout ng aplikasyon. “There are 4.2 million household beneficiaries of 4Ps, and the registration for lifeline subsidy remains very low.

Only those who register will continue to receive a reduction in their electricity bills beginning August 2023,” una nang pahayag ni Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

Hinimok ni Castro ang mga eligible applicants na samantalahin ang maaaring makuha na diskuwento lalo at mas pinalapit na ng More Power sa mga residente ang aplikasyon.

Sa ilalim ng bagong polisiya ng Enhanced Lifeline Subsidy na ipinalabas ng Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at Energy Regulatory Commission(ERC), ang mga 4Ps members gayundin ang marginalized sector na kumukunsumo ng mas mababa sa 100Kwh kada buwan ang eligible na sa subsidy.

Sa mga 4Ps members kailangan lamang na magsumite ng application form, latest electricity bill, Government issued ID at 4Ps ID, sa mga marginalized end user o ang household na may 5 miyembro subalit mayroon lamang pinagsamang buwanang kita na P12,030 ay maaari din na mag-apply ng lifeline subsidy, maliban sa naunang requirements, kailangan lamang na magsumite ng sertipikasyon mula sa local Social Welfare Development Office (SWDO) na nagpapakita ng kanilang family income ay mababa sa poverty threshold na itinakda ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).