Flooding tops Guardo’s priorities 

CEBU, Philippines — To solve the flooding problem in Cebu City is among the top priorities of newly reelected Councilor Jerry Guardo.

“As I have promised during the campaign sortie, top of my priority is really to find long term solution, masulbad kining pagbaha diri sa siyudad,” said Guardo in an interview with the city’s Public Information Office (PIO).

Guardo garnered the second highest number of votes in the North District-- 116,937 votes--during the May 9, 2022 elections.

Also included in his top priority list are to widen narrow roads and to open more new roads to decongest traffic.

“Ang atong gitrabaho karon diri sa Talamban Gymnasium, going up sa mountain barangay, Talamban, Bacayan, Pit-os.  Naa puy gisugdan og trabaho diri sa Sambag I nga mo-connect sa Sambag II. I’m looking at Zapatera, diri sa Benedicto, mo-connect ngadto sa (dalan) Echavez. And also…we can open Ayala Access Road that will also connect sa MJ Cuenco (Ave),” said Guardo.

Guardo said that based on the records from the City Assessor’s Office and Bureau of Lands, these are originally existing public roads that currently have structures.

He said these areas may be impassable but can be opened, so this will be among the things he will work on.

Meanwhile, the councilor will also lobby for more fund allocation for the purchase of solar lights which will be distributed in the barangays, especially in the mountain areas.

“We piloted the distribution and installation sa mga solar lights in mountain barangays and it’s very effective.  We received a very positive feedback from the residents,” said Guardo.

Guardo added that he is planning on a water project for the benefit of the residents in the mountain barangays.

“I will author for water distribution, bulk water supply form GE Hydro and MCWD (Metropolitan Cebu Water District). Ang source nato gikan sa Brgy. Lusaran. It will be distributed to the mountain barangays. Ang atong reservoir will be constructed in Brgy. Busay.  It will supply sa mga residents nearby–Lahug, Apas, down to lowland areas, kay gravity na man ang mopadagan sa tubig paubos. Maka benefit pud including Lusaran, Cambinocot, Paril, Mabini, Guba, Agsungot, Binaliw, Bacayan, Pulangbato, San Jose, Pit-os, Budlaan, and Busay,” he said.

Aside from the regular maintenance such as the asphalting, Guardo said he will continue collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for concreting projects.

His current programs like dredging, declogging, and cleaning of the city’s canals will continue.

In addition, Guardo created the River Trooper Group for the cleaning of the city’s rivers, adding that he wants to aggressively implement this.

Currently, he is the chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Infrastructure and is hoping to continue his chairmanship once the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod enters.

“It would be more beneficial and I can function more efficiently if I still handle the committee on infrastructure, since I am already comfortable (with it) and able to start major projects,” said Guardo. — FPL (FREEMAN)