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THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

A Case Study Report:


The Pantal Riverside Baywalk of Baranggay Pantal, Dagupan City
Dorothy P. Castro
Specialization 2 (Urban Design Studio)
University of Pangasinan Phinma Network Education

I. Introduction

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

I.1 History and Background


The physical development of Dagupan City was once described as an
extensive marshland with rich alluvial soil. It was thickly covered with
mangrove and nipa palm trees which served as habitat to many marshland
wildlife species. Early settlers lived in small clusters of houses along the
shoreline and river banks of Calmay, Pantal, and Bonuan. Later migrants
moved inland occupying the agricultural lands of Malaued, Lasip, Pogo, and
Bacayao. Pantal has become one of the fishing, salt-making and bangus
raising centers in Dagupan city.
Pantal is a barangay of the Philippine component city of Dagupan city
in the province of Pangasinan in Ilocos region which is part of the Luzon
group of islands. The Pantal was derived from the word Pantalan (pier)
which mean splace where ships and boats load and unload their cargoes
during the early times. The area which is on the bank of the river was very
natural Pantalan in short pantal because during the beginning, Dagupan
settlers knew to make boats. It was a matter of necessity. As the volume of
trade grew, it became more necessary to make more and bigger boats... The
Pantal River is a natural wonder and it separates barangay Poblacion Oeste
and Uno from Pantal. As of 1972, there is a shipyard on the Agno River in
poblacion west of Dagupan, towards Calmay. The yard has two master
carpenters Jose Sales from PANTAL, and Onofre Maneclang from Bugallon.
The Pantal is the place where ships and boats load and unload their cargoes.

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

Various types of ocean-going vessels used to dock in Pantal. The river was
full of all kinds of boats, loaded with merchandise from Manila, Bolinao, Vigan
and other centers of trade.The river in Pantal, which we commonly known as
Pantal River, is actually called Toboy River.
The active shifting of Pantal River left a belt of abandoned meanders
alongside it. The positions of the old meanders are indicated by the looping
configuration of swampy areas and other natural drainages .. The age
relationship of an abandoned meander to the active channel could be
inferred from its depth, distance from the present active channel and, where
several meanders intertwined, cross-cutting relationships.
Most of the meander scars exhibit well-developed point bar deposits
and scroll bar ridges. However, some point bars are already obliterated by
cross-cutting meander loops and are covered by levee deposits. A peculiar
characteristic of very young active meanders, particularly those within the
vicinity of the city proper, is the absence of distinct levees. Based on this, it
is very likely that some of these channels have been artificially made,
probably during the development of the city.
Channel abandonment along Pantal River also resulted from
construction of artificial cut-offs. Slow sedimentation of suspended materials
and episodic influx of flood-borne sediments eventually filled up the
abandoned channels. These natural reclamation materials are largely
uncompact and water-saturated sediments and, as such, highly susceptible

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

to amplified ground shaking and liquefaction. At some later stages of natural


reclamation, the abandoned channels are transformed from oxbow lakes into
swamps or marshlands.
An indication of man-made alteration on the fluvial environment of
Dagupan City isle abrupt changes in the sinuosity of Pantal River. Based on
the ratio of channel length and meander wavelength, the sinuosity of the
active and abandoned channels of Pantal Rid, lying south of Dagupan City
proper has an average ratio value of 2.31 and 4.19, respectively. In contrast,
the meander character around the city proper was calculated at 1.40
formula} active channel and 2.14 for the abandoned channels. These
sinuosity measurements distinguish straight and meandering channels at
boundary ratio of 1.5. Therefore, the channel character of Pantal as it
approaches the City proper transforms from a meandering channel to a
straight channel. Furthermore, the similarity of the sinuosity of the
abandoned channels passing through the city and the active meanders at
the southern continuity of the river suggests that these abandoned meander
were not yet primed for natural cut-off but were artificially severed from the
main channel.
Based upon the case study of Dagupan City conducted by the
researchers after the 1990 earthquake a lateral spreading accounted for
most of the destruction of swampy areas in Dagupan City. Buildings and
other manmade were damaged when the river banks slid into Pantal River.

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

The lateral spreading along Pantal river appears to be confined to constricted


portions of the streams channel and because of the local compression
generated the bridge in Pantal river was broken and it swept away the piers
when the river bed was liquefying. The effect of this liquefaction after the
earthquake the Pantal River was used to meander around the area in north
eastward of Dagupan city which is now partly occupied by the A.B. Fernandez
Ave. and Rizal St...
I.2 Site Analysis and Present Situation
The Pantal river property is one of the historical places in Dagupan city in
which they are reviving to bring it back to life. It has a rich ecology back in
times, in which the local communities get their livelihood in the river through
fishing and salt-making. Visually the river was back then clean and clear in
which it may have a potential to be a tourist attraction in the city. Many
activities have been made here especially when the city celebrates the
Bangs Festival. They do a boat racing and a fluvial parade along the river but
unfortunately, the Pintail River has a number of problems as times goes by it
becomes polluted.
The proposed Pantal Esplanade is located along the riverside of the
Baranggay Pantal and Poblacion Oeste ,Dagupan City,and it has a span of
400 m and an elevation of 1.83 m. the existing riprap or dike has a
dimension of 1.93 elevation and a width of 2.10; the whole dimension of the
proposed baywalk which will start in the post of the existing wall up and ends

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

at the plant strip has a dimension of 5 meters excluding the 2.70 m size of
sidewalk. The river is between the barangay Pantal and Poblacion Oeste. In
the riverside they are some dock area in which the local people use to pass
to the other side of the barangay through the use of small boat. It has a port
because on the other side of the river is the bagsakan of fishes and the
market place. The site has an existing landscape and a dike.
Fig. 1: shows the whole stretch in which the Pantal bay walk will be built.

ACTUAL PHOTOS

Actual Photos Fig.2: stretch along the riverside of Brgy. Pantal

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

Fig.3: existing dike, plants or


landscape and dock or mini port
II. Project Purpose and Objectives
In order to help in the development of the Pantal river, a bay walk or
promenade will be propose or presented to beautify and also to prevent or
control the overflowing of the river it is nearby community and
establishments during rainy days and high tides. As they told us, the project
in developing the Pantal river was been initiated before but it hasnt started
yet. It has been a glitch in both barangays when it is in high tide time the
area nearby is flooded and many were affected by this, therefore it would be
an ease to the community of Dagupan City and it also help them to attract
and promote the city to the tourists, investors and visitors.
The objectives of the project were therefore: 1) to construct a bay walk
or promenade along the riverside of the Brgy. Poblacion Oeste and Pantal, 2)
to enhance the area through landscaping and to provide an opportunity for
public interaction, 3) to prevent or control the flood during high tide season

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

and rainy day and 4) for the completion of the project, it would bring back to
life and preserve the Pantal river & this should lead to a new tourist
attraction of the city.
III. Number, Type and Location of Beneficiaries
It is intricate to enumerate the no. of beneficiaries of the project. There
were several of different groups of people either directly or indirectly
involved with the said project, including the local community of Brgy.
Poblacion Oeste and Pantal, the nearby residential area and establishments,
the Municipality of Dagupan city and the visitors/ tourists group; while the
local communities of Brgy. Poblacion Oeste and Pantal they could generate
an income to their livelihood especially those bangkeros and they will
benefit financially when the tourists return. Likewise to the Local Government
Unit of Dagupan city, this will also serve as a buffer against the flood during
the rainydays and high tide seasons. This project could also be use
whenever there are events in the city especially that they are celebrating the
bangus festival.and it somehow would help the city grow economically.
IV. Design and Development Process
The development of Pantal Riverside Baywalk will be using some site
planning principles in order to protect the natural quality of the Pantal river
this includes the preservation of existing landscapes, improving the existing
dike, docking area and also by adding some landscapes design ( view deck,
street lights, benches, fences and etc.) ;even with such a well-defined vision

THE PANTAL RIVERSIDE BAYWALK

for the development of esplanade or baywalk the plan requires a continuous


refinement and clarification.

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