City goes online for DEPW services

CEBU, Philippines — Beginning this week, the target set by Councilor Jerry Guardo, residents in Cebu City can send their requests to the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) through Facebook.

Guardo, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on infrastructure, said a Facebook page will be created for DEPW where the public can channel their requests for services, for example, de-clogging of canals and/or establishment of footpaths.

The Facebook page is expected to be up this week.

"They can interact so duna'y request de-clogging, they can make their comments didto. Mag-create pa mi nga engineering nga page, request for footpaths, request for de-clogging, asphalting… didto na (They can interact and channel their requests there – like requests for de-clogging, footpaths, asphalting… they can channel the requests there)," Guardo said.

He said it would also be easier for the city to track these requests, as well as the city’s response. Requests that have been responded to would also be shared on the page.

"We will take note their request, i-check namo sa engineering, i-inspect namo… so paspas ba, paperless na ang mga request (We will take note of their request, we will coordinate with the engineering department, and we will inspect the project… so it will be faster, paperless)," Guardo said.

The city created the so called “Menos Baha Task Force” purposely to respond to the public’s requests.

The task force is composed of four teams with 60 job order employees who are under the supervision of DEPW.

Guardo said he will ask for additional personnel for the task force so that requests can be dealt with faster.

"Currently, transition pa man, gi-review pa namo ang existing personnel but definitely, ako gyud nang dungagan. The need for de-clogging, murag nagkadaghan bitaw (We are still on the transition stage and we are reviewing the existing personnel, but we will definitely add more men. The need for de-clogging has never been greater)," Guardo said.

De-clogging is one of the short term solutions the city is adopting to address the problem of flooding here. Drainage, creeks, and rivers are cleared from silted trash so that water can flow freely.

Guardo started overseeing de-clogging operations on creeks and rivers, and the establishment of footpaths since 2018.

He said they are getting positive feedback, so far.

"So far, maayo ang feedback. Ang na-observe nila, in fact, sa downtown area nga dugay mo-subside, dali nalang kaayo kay nalimpyo na ba. Other barangays sad… unlike before nga wala pa'y de-clogging, clogged up man. Eighty percent sa canal nila, silted (Feedback is positive, so far, especially in the downtown area. Rainwater subsides easily now that waterways have been cleaned. Before, eighty percent of the canals in the barangays were clogged up)," Guardo said.

As a long term solution, Guardo said he and DEPW will sit down with Mayor Edgardo Labella to discuss the proposed drainage master plan.  The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funded the study for the master plan. (FREEMAN)