Speed up Angat Dam rehab, Noy asked

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Residents of this province urged President Aquino to speed up the rehabilitation of the 45-year-old Angat Dam to prevent a possible dam break in the event of a strong earthquake.

More than 12,000 students and employees joined an earthquake and dam break drill here yesterday.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado said the drill is part of the province’s disaster preparedness. 

“It was the national government who warned us in 2009 that Angat Dam is sitting near the Marikina West Valley Faultline and the President allocated more than P40 million for the feasibility study on the integrity of the dam, and another P5.7 billion for rehabilitation,” he said. 

“There is money, why not spend it and strengthen the dam,” he added.

Alvarado warned that further delay in the rehabilitation of the dam might only lead to the utilization of the P5.7 billion-budget to retrieve the bodies of dam break victims.