NIA’S POSITION ON THE EFFECT OF QUARRYING ALONG THE BUED RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF SAN FABIAN DAM

Republika ng Pilipinas

Department of Agriculture

Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig

(National Irrigation Administration)

Regional Office No. 1

October 11, 2011

NIA’S POSITION ON THE EFFECT OF QUARRYING ALONG THE BUED RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF SAN FABIAN DAM.

Strongly supported by NIA’S more than forty years of invaluable experience in the operation of the San Fabian Irrigation System and considering the historical facts of the Bued River and backed by our technical assessment of the various phenomena that took place in the area and its effect on the San Fabian diversion dam, the Regional Manager and Staff of the National Irrigation Administration firmly believe and state that:

a. The lowering of the riverbed is the main reason for the damage and collapse of the old diversion dam. This is perceptible by examining the old and latest design of the dam whereby the downstream apron is typically set at riverbed elevation or lower. In the original design of the dam, the downstream elevation was then at 51.00 but needs to be lowered to 47.5 or 3.50 Meter below for stability and hydraulic considerations in the 2009 dam design.

b. The lowering of the riverbed is greatly affecting the delivery and application of diverted water for irrigation because of deep percolation due to a much lower water table. This is manifested by the diminishing irrigated area from 2,765 has. In the 1970’ s to a mere 1,144 has. even during the wet crop season since 1994 to present.

c. The more than 4.5 meters difference of elevation from the downstream apron to about One (1) kilometer of the Bued river near the quarry site is causing the slope of the river to become steeper thus increasing the velocity of flood water. Stronger current carries more sediments and scouring the embankment and nearby farmlands as they are made of finer and erodible materials.

d. The existence of sandbar in the middle of the river is causing the shifting of fiercer water current towards the western embankment thus the erosion of farmlands and houses at the same time scouring the riverbed.

e. To stop further the lowering of riverbed no quarrying is allowed downstream of the dam. This is to allow the river to negate the effect of retrogression and extensive quarrying, i.e., to replenish the extracted materials downstream of the dam up to the mouth of the river until such time that more gentle and more stable slope shall have been attained.

f. Quarrying if approved by all concerned agencies shall have limitations as to depth, width area and location of quarry site as it will ultimately determine the shift and direction of flow at various stages of river discharges which at present should preferably be at the upstream of the dam.

Submitted by:

Gerardo C. Oculto, Principal Engineer C

Frida L. Nidoy, Operation Chief, SFDRIS

Helsy S. Bermudez, Manager, Pangasinan IMO

Dolores C. Nicer, Chief, Planning and Design Section

John N. Celeste, Regional Manager

Save Bued River! Save Binday!

4 June 2010 – Binday, San Fabian, Pangasinan. Residents of Brgys. Binday, Anonang, their supporters and sympathizers staged a Rally near the Binday Dam to manifest their concern with regard to the on-going rehabilitation project being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

During last year’ onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng, a greater portion of Binday, notably Sitio Binday South, was destroyed by rushing flood waters. Twenty-One houses were destroyed, and more than 5 hectares of farmland were eroded and destroyed during that calamity.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was one with the protesting residents in asking the Department of Public Works and Highway to present a comprehensive plan in the construction of the flood control dike along Bued River. The Social Action Apostolate of the parish through Bro. Antonio Supremido, the ASAP Parish Coordinator, has been coordinating closely with the residents and officials concerned regarding the said action of the residents.

The residents of Brgys. Binday and Anonang were worried that the construction of the said flood control dike located at the downstream of the Binday Dam could  easily be destroyed by the strong waters rushing coming from the upstream of Bued river.

Engr. Renato Milan, the Provincial Administrator of the National Irrigation Administration, said that the residents do not want a repeat of the disaster that happened to them which destroyed their houses and the irrigation canals resulting in less harvest for them.

Mr. Juan Juguilon, Jr., the Municipal Agriculturist, expressed his apprehension that failure to properly rehabilitate the Bued River will result once again in the destruction of the Binday Dam.

The concerned officials of the Barangays Binday and Anonang and the municipality of San Fabian as well as the affected residents are demanding that they be consulted in the rehabilitation project as they know more about the “life” of Bued River.

A mass was celebrated by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest, near the Binday Dam, before the Rally was held.

To see more pictures of the Rally, kindly click HERE.