DPWH firm on drainage project in Pardo

CEBU, Philippines -  Opposition by residents in Barangay Kinasang-an, Pardo cannot stop the drainage project of the city’s district engineering office of the Department of Public Works and Highways-7.

In a letter, city district engineer Fernando Cruz said his office has analyzed the project appropriately and studied the site well before implementing project and including it in their infrastructure program.

“The extreme heavy rainfall was already considered, the drainage area, the volume of discharge and that’s the reason why we come up to the improvement of existing drainage lines,” he said.

DPWH is currently working on the drainage project in Barangay Poblacion Pardo, which is connected to the drainage system in Sitio Abellare, Barangay Kinasang-an Pardo.

On August 23, at least 21 residents of Sitio Abellare, Barangay Kinasang-an Pardo expressed their opposition to the ongoing project.

Residents opined that they are the ones greatly affected by the impact of the connection of drainage systems of both sitios.

“Sa pagkakaron sa panahon dunay dakong ulan ang among drainage or canal dili ka sugakod sa bul-og nga tubig ulan kay dali ra kaayong maglunop, mosulod ang tubig sa mga panimalay ug malanawan ang among kapilya,” the residents’ letter to the City Council reads.

“Kung idugang pa ang maong giugmad nga drainage project ug ari palutson/ipaagi diri ang tubig sa drainage sa Sitio Abellare mosamot ka daku ang tubig ug dali na malunopan kay ang existing drainage outlet nga nahimutang sa kilid sa Mandaue foam ug luyo sa Ravina’s apartment dili na ka sugakod pagpagawas sa tubig kay pwerteng gamaya sa maong outlet o ang agian sa tubig ulan,” the letter reads further.

The residents said that flooding has worsened because of the garbage that was thrown into the canal.

Cruz said the outfall of the drainage problem was not only concentrated in one location and is being distributed to some existing outfall along the project limit that is appropriate to satisfy the drainage gradient.

“On the particular site mentioned at Sitio Abellare, it was the same outfall that is just being improved, the drainage that will connect to it are the same connections only that it was improved its size and structure,” he said, adding, that DPWH is also considering the same gradient and drainage profile with the existing one.

Cruz said it is impossible to transfer or relocate the outfall considering the gradient of the existing drainage line is in the section toward Sitio Abellare.

“The problem on clogging at the drainage lines due to irresponsible throwing of garbage anywhere, it is advised that the barangay and local government unit will impose sanctions to those people who will be caught throwing their garbage anywhere,” he said.

He added it has been the perennial problem not only in the Metro Cebu but also in all parts of the country.  (FREEMAN)