Dredging of city's creeks set in July

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government will do a city-wide dredging of creeks and waterways to address the problem on siltation that contributes to the flooding in some areas of the city during the rains.

In yesterday’s meeting with the city’s disaster team, city engineering and the barangay captains of the affected areas, city engineer Kenneth Enriquez said the dredging activities will concentrate on the eight proposed sites — the Kalunasan river catchment, the Estero-Parian, the Lahug River, the Mahiga River, the Bulacao River, the Cogon-Pardo River, the Tagunol River and the Basak San Nicolas River.

Enriquez said the city-wide dredging operation will start in July.

But before the city-wide dredging starts, Enriquez said the clearing and removing of illegal structures along the creeks and waterways will be done first. Because of this, Enriquez is seeking the assistance of barangay officials in identifying the illegal settlers.

The city targets to remove the illegal structures by March, and if the owners insist on not leaving, the city legal department will issue notices.

Right now, the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council (CCDCC) has already started dredging the Mahiga Creek and removing the illegal houses of illegal settlers.

Alvin Santillana of the CCDCC said they have already established general procedural guidelines in the clearing of rivers and creeks, and establishment of three-meter easement.

The removal of illegal structures on the banks of creeks and rivers is part of the recommendations in the city-funded studies for the Drainage Master Plan submitted to the mayor’s office in 2005 but were not implemented until now.

Engineers in the study identified flood-prone areas in each barangay, waterways and catchments, and the location of culverts, canals, and drainage facilities.

The full implementation of the plan, whose objective is for an integrated sewage system for Cebu City, is estimated to cost over P800 million several years ago.

Officials said the first phase of the drainage master plan is about to start, with the demolition of shanties along creeks and rivers.

Last January 25 to 27, several roads and neighborhoods of Cebu City and Mandaue City were under waist-deep waters following a heavy downpour, prompting local government units to review their drainage master plans for implementation to prevent similar incidents in the future. — (FREEMAN)