Local government officials (LGUs) in this province appealed to the national government to clean up the Pansipit River to prevent heavy flooding in the future.

The river, about nine kilometers long, runs through the towns of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lemery, and Taal.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally visited Talisay and Laurel towns on Monday to extend condolences and assistance to the families of those who died in flooding and landslides during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) on Oct. 24.

Nov. 4 was declared the National Day of Mourning under Proclamation 728 “in solidarity with the bereaved families and loved ones of those who perished due to the devastation brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.”

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Governor Hermilando Mandanas said that while typhoons are natural and inevitable, preparation must always be in place to avoid another tragedy.

“Our Taal Lake is not being cleaned, our Pansipit River is overflowing. We want to start [but] the DENR said they will take care of that… we are still focusing on this,” he said.

Mandanas said he coursed this concern last week through Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

The watersheds in Talisay, Malvar, Tanauan City, Laurel, Agoncillo, Santa Teresita, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Mataas na Kahoy, Lipa City, Balete and San Nicolas are declared protected areas, forming part of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape under Presidential Decree No. 923, according to the governor.

Likewise, the enactment of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 aims to subject the same under the authority of the DENR for its administration and management.

Mandanas noted that the Protected Area Management Bureau serves as the initial component for the management of each protected area.

Talisay Mayor Nestor Natanauan underscored that said concern must be addressed immediately to avoid a repeat of last month’s tragedy that claimed 59 lives in Batangas.

“We can notice [that] Taal Lake rose by more than one meter in just three days. I have to mention this because all concerned people are now here with us… This has been our plea for a long time now because there have been disasters. If it can’t be done now, it will happen again and again,” he said in Filipino.

He warned that other development projects, including the Taal Lake Circumferential Road, will also be destroyed if this matter is left unresolved.

Further, there will be more casualties and damaged properties and infrastructure in coastal towns, he added.

Mandanas and Natanauan thanked President Marcos and national government agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Social Welfare and Development. for their swift action at the height of Kristine. (PNA)