DPWH told: Release funds for relocation of riverbank residents
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS
CEBU City Councilor Jerry Guardo is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) to release the budget intended for residents along riverbanks who will be affected by flood control projects in Metro Cebu.
Guardo said these projects would not be fully implemented if people living near riverbanks would not be relocated.
“Right now very important nga masolud ang budget because maglisod og mobilize, mo-start sa trabaho nga naa pay informal settlers. Mas nindot kun wala na sila dinha,” Guardo said.
(Right now it is very important for the budget to be released because it will be difficult for the contractors to mobilize and start with their work if the informal settlers are still there)
The DPWH-7 has P731-million in flood control and drainage improvement projects for Metro Cebu, funded under the general appropriation act (GAA) of 2016.
These projects include the P422-million flood control and drainage improvement in Barangays Bulacao, Kinalumsan, Guadalupe, Lahug in Cebu City; and Barangay Subangdaku in the Mandaue City River basin.
There is also a P70-million Kinalumsan River Flood Control Project and a P96-million Tejero Channel Improvement Project.
Guardo said these projects are implemented by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC).
He said that budget for these projects also includes relocating the riverside communities.
Guardo explained the need for flood control projects in the city as a means to rehabilitate rivers.
As for Cebu City, Guardo said that the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) has listed more than 200 residents who would be affected by these projects.
“An estimated budget of P140 million ang ihatag to the Cebu City government from NHA (National Housing Authority) through the DPWH,” Guardo said.
Guardo said that there is a need to hasten these projects since these are also ways to prevent flooding in the city.
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