Rama to use Filinvest payments for drainage

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the payment of Filinvest Land Incorporated to the City this year to be spent for the city’s drainage projects.

Filinvest is set to pay the city P255 million this year, due on March 11.

Rama said that due to the urgency of the need for a proper drainage system, he wants the P255 million to be used to implement the comprehensive drainage master plan which they figured as the solution to flooding.

“I am of the view na ang FLI payment of almost P300 million, dili na hilabtan, atong i-devote sa drainage. The flooding last Tuesday was a wake-up call. Please be reminded that we have to be working with each other,” Rama told the council and barangay officials in a gathering yesterday at the social hall.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, said that using the FLI payment for the drainage is a welcome development.

In the Annual Budget for 2011, only P50 million was appropriated for drainage. After last Tuesday’s incident however, the construction of a proper drainage system becomes more urgent.

Daluz said that if the City could no longer wait for March 11 to come, there is also the option for an open credit. “Anyway, P300 million is just a small amount. Pwede rana utangon sa City aron madali ang atong construction sa drainage. Makautang man gain ta’g billion for the SRP, why not for services,” Daluz said.

Meanwhile, Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairman of the committee on environment, said she will file an ordinance next week regulating the use of plastics that clog the city’s drainage and waterways.

If approved, all plastics that are now being given for free by establishments will have to be paid for to encourage the use of recyclable bags. They are already consulting the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry about the matter.

Meanwhile, Rama also announced that he wants to demolish illegal structures constructed along the Mahiga Creek. But he said the Mandaue City Government should also do the same.

Mahiga Creek passes through Cebu City and Mandaue City, particularly Barangays Kasambagan, Subangdaku and Mabolo. It overflowed and flooded some parts of the North Reclamation Area last Monday. (FREEMAN)