The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start dredging the Mahiga Creek next week. A few minutes of rainfall would make the creek swell which is a big factor in the flooding problem of both the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be implementing its P88 million dredging project of the Mahiga and Tipolo creeks in Mandaue City next week.
The announcement came a day after the Cebu City council disapproved the P70 million worth of dredging projects for the city’s seven major rivers and waterways.
In a press conference yesterday, Renault Ricardo, DPWH assistant City Engineer, said the dredging of the two creeks will start simultaneously.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes already gave the go signal that the wastes from the rivers be taken to the city’s landfill in barangay Paknaan.
Wastes will be segregated into toxic and non-toxic. Toxic wastes will be given to the agriculture department of the city while the non-toxic will go to the city’s 6.5- hectare housing project in barangay Paknaan.
As for Cebu City, the City Council did not approve the proposed P70 million budget for the dredging project as “it will not solve the problem.”
Councilors Sisinio Andales, Margot Osmeña, Nida Cabrera, Lea Japson, Nestor Archival Sr., Alvin Arcilla, and Eugenio Gabuya Jr. voted against the passage of the resolution.
While councilors Carillo, Noel Wenceslao, Richard Osmeña Hanz Abella, Dave Tumulak and Phillip Zafra voted in favor of the resolution.
Councilor James Anthony Cuenco abstained while Mary Ann Delos Santos went outside of the session hall during the voting. Councilors Roberto Cabarrubias and Alvin Dizon were absent.
Under their proposed resolution, P70 million will be used for equipment rental.
Based on the estimates submitted by City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete, the city will need at least one long arm backhoe, a 25-ton crane with clamp shell and dump trucks for each of the rivers.
The P70 million will be equally divided for the north and south districts. For the north district, the waterways included are: Estero Parian Waterway (P5.1 million), Lahug Waterway (P12.75 million), Mahiga Creek (P7.2 million) and Tejero Waterway (P9.95 million).
For the south district, the areas are Guadalupe River (P17.2 million), Kinalumsan River (P13.35 million) and Tagunol Waterway (P4.45 million).
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