Labangon asks city's help on unused pool

CEBU, Philippines - To prevent the defective and unused swimming pool in barangay Labangon from becoming a breeding site of mosquitoes that will contribute to the spread of dengue, the barangay officials are asking Cebu City Hall to help them take care of the facility.

 The swimming pool, which is situated beside the Labangon Elementary School and some steps away from the Labangon fire sub-station, is just being used by the firemen as a water reservoir where trucks can get their water supply in case of fire incidents.

 When Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar assumed his post in 2010 he cleaned the pool of several rocks and mud. This was never used for swimming in the past years because of its defective structure.

 The pool was constructed by a private contractor during the time of mayor Alvin Garcia. It was intended for the students of Labangon Elementary School but it has no drainage system.

 The Commission on Audit earlier recommended that the contractor be required to fix the problem but no action was taken so far.

 Comar had said the swimming pool, which is just beside the Labangon fire sub-station, can accommodate 95 cubic meters of water that is why it can be very useful to firefighters.

 Labangon is one of the barangays in Cebu City that have several cases of dengue and the health officials believe that the unused swimming pool had contributed to the problem.

 In one of the sessions of Labangon Barangay Council, the barangay legislators headed by Barangay Captain Victor Buendia approved the proposal of Councilman Ian Anthony Osmeña to request the Cebu City officials to help them acquire a water pump to be used in the pool.

The City Council had decided to refer the matter to the mayor for further action.  (FREEMAN)