CONCEPCION, Tarlac — Mayor Noel Villanueva has directed a sustained, multi-barangay effort to stabilize damaged river dikes along the Parua River, following the devastation left by the recent southwest monsoon (habagat).
Since early September, municipal and barangay personnel have been carrying out river channel diversion, bamboo cribbing, spur diking, and sandbagging operations in the affected sections of Barangay San Francisco, Dungan, and San Martin.
At the Parua River’s Sitio Dawe section in Barangay San Francisco, two backhoes and one bulldozer were deployed to divert the river channel. Bamboo poles and sand were also delivered for the construction of bamboo cribbing to shore up collapsed structures.
The local government said the interventions are meant to redirect the meandering flow of the river back toward its center, preventing it from slamming into riverbanks and endangering nearby homes.
On September 13, Sunday, Mayor Villanueva’s team met on-site with Barangay Captain Edgar Lacson, Kagawad Orlan Caguiat, Kagawad Fidel Tapnio, and Engr. Santiago to map out how to execute bamboo cribbing and spur diking using bamboo poles and sandbags as temporary measures to prevent further damage to the collapsed dike structure at the Parua River’s San Francisco section.
“Kahit po araw ng Linggo, nagsisikap po ang mga barangay officials sa mga apektadong lugar para makagawa ng paraan na hindi lumubha ang sitwasyon at pati na ang paraan kung papaano iayos ang daloy ng tubig na kailangang maibalik sa gitnang bahagi ng ilog ang agos ng tubig,” Villanueva said.
The following day, clearing of grass and vegetation along the riverbed continued alongside sandbagging and spur diking in Barangay San Francisco. The mayor thanked barangay officials and residents who joined the clearing, spurdiking, and sandbagging activities.
“Mga Cabalen, patuloy ang ating clearing ng mga damuhan sa riverbed kasabay ng sandbagging at spurdiking (bamboo cribbing). Ginagawa natin ito para i-divert ang meandering flow ng tubig papunta sa gitnang bahagi ng ilog—iwas-hampas sa ating riverbanks para ligtas ang mga kalapit na kabahayan,” he said.
On September 15, simultaneous public service operations were conducted, including inspection of community activities for spurdiking and sandbagging of the collapsed dike structure in Barangay Dungan. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Concepcion and the Municipal Engineering Office were mobilized for spurdiking and activities requiring bulldozers and other heavy equipment for infrastructure repairs.
By September 18, a full-force Friday operation was underway in Barangays San Martin and Dungan.
The municipal government explained that bamboo cribbing, spurdiking, and sandbagging are temporary but proven effective measures to prevent further deterioration of destroyed dikes while funds for more permanent repairs remain unavailable.
“Wala pa pong pondo for concrete revetment project kaya sa limitadong pondo na isang epektibong paraan ang sandbagging/bamboo cribbing at spurdiking para maiwasan ang mas malubhang pagkasira ng mga dike,” Villanueva said.
“Ito ay ang tradisyonal na paraan na ginamit ng ating mga ninuno kahit na noong unang panahon noong hindi pa natutuklasan ang semento,” he added.
The mayor has been personally overseeing the operations, which involve coordinated efforts among the MDRRMO, Municipal Engineering Office, barangay councils, and local residents.
The series of interventions came after the habagat unleashed heavy rains and flooding that weakened and collapsed dike structures along the Parua River, threatening communities in low-lying barangays.
Local officials said the temporary measures are critical to protecting homes and livelihoods while the municipal government awaits funding for concrete revetment and other long-term solutions.
