Flooding feared amid defects in one of Bustos Dam's floodgates

Defects have been spotted in one of the floodgates of Bustos Dam in Bulacan province, making residents of nearby areas fear the coming rainy season, a report on Unang Balita said on Wednesday.

The report quoted Vice Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado as saying that the defects were spotted at the dam's Rubber Gate 5 in May. He warned that if not addressed, this may cause flooding during the rainy season.

Because of this, Governor Daniel Fernando recommended that all of the dam's rubber gates be replaced.

The National Irrigation Administration, meanwhile, said the rubber gates, which are from China, may be defective and must be replaced by the contractor in charge of the dam's rehabilitation.

The contractor reportedly said the rubber gate was damaged by sharp objects frequently hitting it. --KBK, GMA News