RDC tells DPWH Manila prepare Metro Cebu drainage plan

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Development Council (DRC) 7 endorsed the recommendation of its Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) to let the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office prepare the integrated drainage plan for Metro Cebu.

IDC recommended that the preparation of the Metro Cebu Drainage Master Plan be undertaken by DPWH’s Project Management Office – Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center (PMO-FCSEC).

RDC approved this during its full council meeting in Tagbilaran City, Bohol yesterday.

The Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) had passed a resolution requesting DPWH’s PMO-FCSEC through DPWH 7 for assistance in preparing the integrated drainage plan.

MCDCB earlier requested DPWH-7 to prepare the integrated plan based on the individual drainage plans of the different local government units within Metro Cebu to address the recurring flooding problem.

LGUs in Metro Cebu were urged to submit their respective drainage plans to the Research, Program and Organizational Development (RPOD) Unit of MCDCB for integration into an integrated master plan.

However, only seven of the 13 cities and municipalities in Metro Cebu submitted their local drainage plans.

These include Cebu City, Cordova, Danao City, Liloan, Mandaue City, Naga City and Talisay City.

During an MCDCB meeting last month, DPWH-7 informed the body that it lacks the expertise to help the LGUs that do not have drainage plans.

Instead, it recommended to tap the services of the DPWH PMO-FCSEC’s private consulting firm, SPACES System.

Some members of the MCDCB raised suspicion on DPWH’s suggestion.

MCDCB chairperson Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said DPWH’s proposal is very strange considering that government agencies are bound by Republic Act 9184 which provides the procurement guidelines of goods and services.

It was learned that the drainage plans submitted by the cities of Cebu, Naga and Talisay were prepared by SPACES Systems. (FREEMAN)