CEBU, Philippines – Acting Mandaue City Engineer Gregorio Omo said the city has completed a master drainage plan but the plan will remain frozen until the city comes up with at least a billion pesos to implement it.
However, to take the edge off some perennial drainage problems, some projects have been put into effect with the use of city funds.
The flooding in sitio Superior in barangay Looc is considered a perennial problem. Although a program of work has been readied, its implementation has been put off until the land ownership issue is settled.
In barangay Banilad, logjams build up on rainy days along A. S. Fortuna Street when the water reaches waist high. The problem has been traced to structures put up by some establishments which block the flow of water toward the creek. Houses owned by informal settlers also block the water flow in the creek itself.
Omo said the city is negotiating with property owners in Banilad on the possibility of expropriating the land so that the drainage problem can be corrected.
Last Saturday evening, flood water approximately one meter high inundated sitio Riles in barangay Basak, affecting the facilities of the Basak Elementary School and the Basak National High School.
Mud covers fifteen classrooms which until now cannot be occupied.
Omo said an ocular inspection of the area showed that the drainage on both sides of the national road was too deep and the culverts were too small to accommodate rainwater during a heavy downpour.
Because of this the city engineer's office has recommend the enlargement of the drainage.
For the meantime, water suction pumps are being used to draw off the water from the area. (FREEMAN)