Brgy. Tibagan, Bustos Bulacan
15 April 2016
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the launching of the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (Bustos Dam) Rehabilitation Project, which intends to improve the irrigation scheme of the 31,486-hectare Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) service area, in Barangay Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan.
The project encompasses the reparation of the Diversion Dam that entails the replacement of six bays rubber gates, and improvement of apron, training walls and gates. This rehabilitation work also covers improvement of main canals, laterals and supplementary structures, operations and maintenance, and support services.
Aside from rehabilitating the dam and its support structures from further damages, the project aims to support the agricultural project of the government by improving the irrigation water delivery and cropping intensity of the AMRIS service area. Further, this project serves as a flood control plan to prevent flashfloods in the downstream of Angat River during rainy season.
“Sisimulan ang rehabilitasyon ngayong Mayo, at target nating makumpleto ito sa Agosto 2017. Pag natapos ito, inaasahang mapapatubigan ang buong 26,791 hectares sa kasalukuyang service area ng AMRIS, mula 23,068 hectares lamang na patubigan nitong nakaraang cropping season. Tinatayang 23,700 na magsasaka ng Bulacan at Pampanga ang makikinabang dito,” President Aquino remarked.
Bustos Dam was constructed in 1926. Through the help of the Japan government, rubber gates replaced the nonoperational steel gates in 1997 and 1998. In 2007, some holes were repaired and replaced, proofs of the weakening condition of the gates. It was only in 2012 when the six rubber gates were examined by specialists from Bridgestone and concluded that a replacement is necessary. The finding led to the planning and implementation of the rehabilitation project, which has an estimated cost of PhP 1B from Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Before the launching of Bustos Dam Rehabilitation Project, President Aquino also led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project (BBWSP) in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
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