DENR assesses Talisay's 7 flood-prone areas

The Department of Environment and Natural Resource-Mines and Geosciences Bureau is evaluating Talisay City's flood-prone areas after the city sought its expertise.

Experts from the agency went to barangays Lawaan II, Maghaway and Lagtang last Thursday and would be visiting other areas this week.

DENR would come out with an evaluation report indicating whether the places are geological hazards.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Christine Homez said the city is eagerly awaiting the report so it could come up with plans that would prevent a catastrophe such as the one that took place in Southern Leyte from happening here.

Seven barangays, which lie along Mananga River, have been identified as prone to floods. The Mananga River stretches for many kilometers.

These areas are occupied by a number of houses. Homez earlier blamed the city for being lenient on residents who build their homes along the banks without considering measures that would protect their lives in case of flooding.

The Gawad Kalinga project with almost 100 houses to be built is situated near Mananga River in barangay Lawaan II, another flood-prone area. However, the city had already rip rapped the area to prevent the river from flooding the area. - Liv G. Campo