By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

A P32-million dredging machine of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to arrive in this city on Sept. 25 to augment the on-going dredging at the Iloilo River and its tributaries.

DPWH regional director Edilberto Tayao confirmed that the new dredging machine or the Water Master will now be permanently assigned in Iloilo.

Currently, dredging activities are undertaken near the mouth of the river and soon at the Iloilo Fishing Port area. The equipment being used, however, is not capable of entering creeks and other tributaries.

Once the removal of silt at the Iloilo River is completed the Waster Master will proceed to Dugon and Calajunan creeks, which have been identified to have higher concentration of coliform and among the most polluted tributaries of the river.

The dredging is part of the rehabilitation efforts of the Iloilo River spearheaded by the city government here and supported by Senator Franklin Drilon.

Drilon earlier said that residents living along the tributaries must be relocated first to give way to the cleaning up of the said areas.