‘Collaboration vital in solving metro woes’

CEBU, Philippines — Some Metro Cebu mayors have agreed to join forces in solving perennial problems like flooding and garbage disposal.

Mayors of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay said an “inter-city” approach is needed to solve these problems.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, who are attending a three-day governance orientation in Manila, have decided to meet and discuss the approach when they return to Cebu.

Their respective engineers and the personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways will also be joining the meeting.

“Just before the orientation, the three of us agreed to meet again in Cebu with our respective engineers and officials from DPWH to discuss on how we can find solutions on pressing issues in our respective LGUs (local government units), such as traffic and flooding,” Gullas said in his Facebook post.

Gullas said it is important that they work as one to address the problems.

“We hope as newly-elected mayors of our respective cities to cooperate especially that traffic and flooding cannot be solved by individual efforts alone,” he said.

Last month, heavy rains flooded a low-lying area in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City last month, causing commuters and vehicles grounded for almost three hours.

The flooding was attributed to improper disposal of garbage, causing the water to desist from drifting the drains.

Gullas has expressed support to the possibility of total plastic ban in the city. But he said there should be consultation with all concerned sectors before the ban would be implemented. — Ma. Mae C. Labora, CNU intern KBQ (FREEMAN)