40 hectares of land eroded in Guagua village; folks cry for help - Gov heeds call for assistance

by JOEL P. MAPILES

GUAGUA, Pamp.--- The local folks from Sitio Dalisdis in barangay Ascomo, this town cried for help due to the continuing problem on soil erosion in their area since the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

With this, they appealed for assistance to the national government particularly to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units on how to mitigate and prevent the continuing soil erosion.

Angelo Layug, village chief of Ascomo claimed that some 40 hectares of farm lands had been eroded at Sitio Dalisdis in barangay Ascomo, this town due to the perennial floods rampaging from the Porac River especially during rainy season.

With this, he said almost a hundred families had been displaced and relocated to other places but there are still remaining families living in the area who needs help.

Layug said if the soil erosion would not be prevented, he is alarmed that time will come, the whole barangay would be gulped down by the river.

Gov’s heeds call for assistance

Last week, Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda visited barangay Ascomo to find out the present condition of the families along the eroded portion of the village.

She said the Porac River is now heavily silted and there is an urgent need to unclog the river from lahar deposits to prevent soil erosion.

Pineda noted that the Porac River is not under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, it is within the mandate of the national government particularly the DPWH.

Nonetheless, Pineda said the province would give whatever assistance it could share but it is still not enough to contain the erosion problem in the area.

With this, she has instructed the provincial engineer to estimate the cost of gasoline that would be incurred by the bulldozer equipment that would be provided temporarily by the provincial capitol for the desilting of the river.

The governor has also assisted the poof families who are sick but cannot afford for their hospitalization.

She has also provided some grocery items to the people in the area as food assistance.