Mayors want garbage disposal, obstructions in waterways probed

INDISCRIMINATE waste disposal and obstructions in waterways were cited by some Metro Cebu mayors as the biggest problems that should be addressed in a new feasibility study for a metro-wide drainage and flood control plan.

“For me, the structures that are along those rivers should be removed. I won’t mention specifics but I think you know what I mean. Those are the ones that impede our waters,” Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado said yesterday.

The Consolacion municipal government, along with five towns and seven cities comprising Metro Cebu, is part of the Mega Cebu consortium.

A feasibility study for an integrated flood and drainage system master plan for Metro Cebu was pushed by private sector and government stakeholders for the Mega Cebu vision of well-planned urban growth up to 2050.

Consultants will be mobilized in Cebu by the second week of July after a winning bidder was declared to conduct the P48 million study funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Remedy

The contract with Woodfields Consultancy Inc. in Manila is being finalized.
“I trust DPWH under the leadership of (Department of Public Works and Highways) Secretary (Rogelio) Singson,” Alegado said.

Aside from clearing rivers and creeks of obstructions, Alegado said local government units (LGUs) should also be diligent in cleaning canals and waterways.

“If nothing gets stuck in our waters and debris doesn’t float around, then the water just flows naturally,” she said. Alegado said flooding only occurs in a town when the sea level rises.

As a remedy, she ordered the elevation of some roads in Consolacion by at least six inches.

Critical

The road works, by far, covered almost one kilometer totaling to at least P10 million since the start of the year.

The Mega Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) is also looking at creating a separate solid waste management plan as one of its projects.

Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes said he will support the drainage master plan.

“That is really important so that when the rainy season comes, we will not experience floods especially in places with rivers,” delos Reyes said.

Delos Reyes said proper solid waste management is critical in preventing flooding.

Cooperate

“The more garbage we remove from our rivers, the less we have to deal with flooding problems,” he said.

Delos Reyes said the Talisay City government prioritized river cleanup to prevent floods.

“We have one passing through (barangay) Linao to Po-oc and we clean it every week. There is a need to clean our rivers in order to not worsen the present flooding problems,” he said.

Both Alegado and Delos Reyes said LGUs and the public should fully cooperate to ensure the success of proper solid waste management.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said his town didn’t experience floods due to the absence of obstructions in their waterways even at newly-built subdivisions.

Still, he suggested that flood-prone Cebu City and Mandaue city should widen their drainage and install stoppages to stem the flow of water from the mountain areas.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said the MCDCB project committee wants to meet with the consultants for the feasibility study to learn and share their input on the drainage master plan for Metro Cebu.