THE Department of Public Works and Highways in the region (DPWH -7) has vowed to fast track their river improvement works so as to minimize flooding in Metro Cebu.
Engr. Earl Escanuela of DPWH’s Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) – Flood Control Management Cluster said that river widening and dredging are being done in areas that had been identified as critical in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.
“Currently, we are instructing our contractors to expedite their works because there are times when the project will be affected by bad weather conditions,” he said.
Priority areas include rivers in Barangays Kinalumsan, Guadalupe, Lahug, Tejero and Bulacao in Cebu City.
Also, rivers in Barangay Tipolo and Subangdaku in Mandaue City had been identified as critical.
The seven river improvement project, is being funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2016 with at least P684 million.
Escanuela, however, expressed the challenge of having informal settler families (ISF) residing near rivers.
“These are very prone to danger when the water overflows,” he said.
To help the Cebu City government relocate ISFs, DPWH has allocated P140 million from its national funds last June.
Escanuela called on the public to keep their surroundings clean and to properly dispose of garbage so as not to clog waterways.
Escanuela said DPWH’s river rehabilitation project in Cebu and Mandaue is only the first phase of the 13-LGU (local government units) Metro Cebu Flood Control Drainage Masterplan.
Metro Cebu is composed of the cities of Cebu, Carcar, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga, and Talisay and the municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla and San Fernando.
Escanuela said they are targeting to finish river rehabilitation in Metro Cebu within ten years.