Marcos wants immediate solution to siltation in Ilocos Norte

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday said siltation has become a serious problem in his home province of Ilocos Norte, which was recently battered by Typhoon Julian.

Marcos discovered this as he visited Ilocos Norte to assess the damage brought by the onslaught of the typhoon. He stressed that the siltation problem in the province should be addressed.

"Grabe na pala ang siltation dito (It seems the siltation problem here is bad), we have to do something. I'll talk to whoever can help us because I don't remember the river being that shallow before. I've never seen them that shallow... they're being silted for a long time, may puno na eh (trees are growing already)," Marcos said.

"I think it's the main problem that we are facing... it's the siltation, that's what's causing the damage that we're seeing. I think that's the root problem," he added.

Siltation happens when river water deposits silt into reservoirs, leading to environmental issues such as reduced water storage capacity.

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc expressed hope that the local government can work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Works and Highways to conduct large-scale dredging.

According to DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan, the agency aims to acquire more dredging equipment to address siltation.

The DPWH earlier responded to a mudslide in Santa, while in Laoag City up to 655 families have been affected, including residents of Barangay Gabu Norte, where an embankment under construction collapsed.

A bridge and part of a road also collapsed in Vintar, while some tombstones were destroyed in a cemetery in Sarrat.

Ilocos Norte was placed under state of calamity due to Julian. The weather disturbance on Friday weakened into a low pressure area and has exited the Philippine area of responsibility. — VDV, GMA Integrated News