Council tackles today P70M dredging budget

CEBU, Philippines - To put an end to flooding in the city, an additional P70 million worth of dredging projects is now being lobbied at the Cebu City Council.

City Councilors Noel Wenceslao, Roberto Cabarrubias, Gerardo Carillo, Hanz Abella and David Tumulak, in a joint resolution, request will seek approval of the allocation in their session today so as to help address the dredging of rivers and creeks, and de-clogging of aqueducts, seawalls, and river walls, among others.

The councilors said garbage in rivers is the main reason for clogging and overflowing of creek and other tributaries.

The move is also in line with the city’s plan to restore the Mahiga, Lahug, Guadalupe, Bulacao and Kinalumsan rivers to their original width as a solution to flooding in the downtown area.

The council is set to discuss today the proposed allocation.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, City Planning and Development Office and Department of Engineering and Public Works were also invited to join the city councilors to speak on specifics of the dredging projects and their importance in mitigating flooding.

City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia has already certified that there are enough funds for the allocation under this year’s DEPW appropriations.

DEPW has already prepared the programs of works and estimates for the said projects, which includes P35 million each for the north and south areas.

The project covers the dredging and de-silting of waterways, which include Estero Parian (P5 million), Lahug (P12.8 million), Mahiga Creek (P7.2 million),  and Tejero (P9.95 million) in the north district; and Guadalupe river (P17.2 million), Kinalumsan River (P13.4 million),  and Tagunol waterway (P4.5 million).

Once their proposed allocation is approved, Carillo said DEPW would immediately start dredging.

City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., though, said he was is not optimistic that dredging could finally solve or minimize the perennial flooding problem in the city. — /RHM (FREEMAN)