Newly built dike in Pangasinan now useless

Uncertainty hounds residents living near a river in Binalonan town in Pangasinan after a dike supposed to protect them from floods when the river overflows has become useless.

The dike at Sitio Riverview in Barangay Sumabnit sustained serious damage after days of heavy rain - less than a month after it was completed, GMA Dagupan’s Joanne Ponsoy reported Friday.

“Sabi matibay. Hindi pa tumataas ang tubig, nasira na,” said resident David Escala.

“Baka lumapit sa bahay namin (ang baha),” said another resident, Leny Piscassio.

Hundreds of houses may be at potential risk if the dike is useless.

Work on the dike by the Department of Public Works and Highways Pangasinan’s third district engineering office started in February.

The dike, made of rocks and wires, was completed in June.

For its part, the barangay said the DPWH has been informed about the situation.

“Iniinspeksyon na nila ito,” said Sumabnit barangay chairman Liberson Gajotan.

DPWH spokesperson Engineer Narchito Arpilleda added they are monitoring the situation, but admitted they cannot fix it because of the rain.

“Naka-monitor kami riyan pero hindi basta-basta maayos kasi umuulan,” Arpilleda said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News