MAYOR BONG GORDON: ‘’Meron na tayong SIPSIP 1’’

‘’Gusto kong ipa-alam sa inyo na meron ng sariling dredging machine ang Olongapo na ngayon ay nag- lilinis na sa ibat-ibang mga channels at rivers ng lungsod,’’ said Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. at the recent “Binggo Bonggah-Anne, Panalo Ka Bayan!” courtesy of Kalinga Community for Children at Brgy. East Bajac-Bajac.

‘’Tinawag natin na ‘Sipsip 1’ ang unang dredging machine at dadagdagan pa natin yan, bibili pa ng isang dredging machine ang lungsod na tatawagin naman nating ‘Sipsip 2’,’’ Mayor Gordon proudly announced.

’Kung dati ay humihiram lamang tayo ng dredging machine sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ngayon ay tuloy-tuloy ang gingawang trabaho ng City Engineering Office (CEO) dahil ayon sa mga flood control experts ay malaki ang tulong ng desilting sa mga ilog sa lungsod. Sinimulan noong buwan ng Marso ang desilting sa bukana ng Kalaklan River,’’ Mayor Gordon added.

It can be recalled that the first city-owned dredging machine arrived on February 3, 2010. The IMS Model 5012 HP Versi Dredge with Patented Starwheel Dredging Machine which was bought by the city government from the United States came in with accessories. “Kung ikukumpara sa isang ordinaryong dredging machine na nasa three hundred (300) meters lamang ang layo ng buhangin na kayang ibuga, ang dredging machine na binili ng city government ay tripleng mas powerful dahil meron itong kapasidad na 1.5 kilometer maximum length of pipe na di hamak na mas malayo ang kayang ibuga na buhangin,” General Service Office (GSO) Head Engr. Vic Bernabe said.

‘’Bagamat mas maliit siya sa size ay mas malakas o compact naman ito at kayang pumasok kahit na sa mga makikipot na ilog na hindi nagagawa ng isang ordinaryong dredging machine, the GSO head added.

According to a study done by flood control experts, the over flow of rivers is a result of erosion. Soil, mud, rock and other particles go down from the mountains and making the rivers shallow. To prevent river overflows, the dredging machine will be used for regular desilting works in Olongapo City rivers particularly Sta. Rita River, Mabayuan River, Cabalan River, East Bajac-Bajac Channel and Kalaklan River.

Mayor Bong Gordon, Olongapo City First Lady and Zambales Vice-Gov Anne Gordon who is now running for the congressional seat of the 1st District of Zambales and Vice Mayor Cynthia Cajudo inspect the powerful IMS Model 5012 HP Versi Dredge with Patented Starwheel dredging machine at the mouth of Kalaklan River.