DPWH starts dredging of Gugu River in Minalin

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started the dredging of Gugu River that spans the Bacolor-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike in the town of Minalin, Pampanga on 14 September 2026, as part of the flood intervention measures of the agency.

Gugu River has not been dredged for around 15 years, which overflowed and cracked open the tail dike as the Southwest Monsoon battered the Central Luzon region during the whole month of August.

According to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, this is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s thrust to boost the Oplan Kontra Baha of the DPWH. Dizon inspected the dredging operation along with Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda and Minalin Mayor Philip Naguit.

The DPWH has deployed heavy machineries that will be utilized to deepen the Gugu River, which serves as a catchment basin that drains the original channel of the Pasig-Potrero River in Central Luzon.

Mayor Naguit said that the local government has repaired the Taildike road again last Saturday, September 12, 2026, specifically in the area of Brgy. Mesalipit, Municipality of Bacolor.

“We had the road backfilled and leveled because it had developed potholes due to the rain. This is because this is the road we are currently using to go in and out of the town center,” he said.

The mayor expressed his gratitude to Sto. Tomas Mayor John Sambo for lending the grader, and to the PSN Boys - Kalinisan Team personnel led by Bapang Rico Yutuc for their prompt action.