City starts expanding Kinalumsan River

CEBU, Philippines — Work is underway to dredge and expand the Kinalumsan River after it was successfully cleared recently.

The work is part of the city government’s efforts to reclaim the easement near waterways and tributaries as directed by Mayor Michael Rama.

According to Harold Alcontin, operations head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), they are already done removing the structures that used to occupy the three-meter easement near the river, particularly in between the bridges of Spolarium and C. Padilla Streets.

Alcontin said they have started dredging the Kinalumsan River in order to accommodate more water to flow through it. This after the sediments that have accumulated in the river had prevented the free passage of water, especially during heavy rains, which caused the river to overflow, contributing to the flooding.

“Last operation gahapon sa clearing. Na-clearing na nato ang area sa Segment B sa right side nga didto gyud baba kana sa hagdanan sa Duljo Fatima nga merkado. Limpyo nato didto ‘nya na-demolish na nato ang mga illegal structures naa didto, katong sa bridge, so cleared na siya”, said Alcontin.

(We had our last operation yesterday in Kinalumsan. We were ab le to clear Segment B on the right side, near the mouth of the river, the one near the stairway in Duljo Fatima market. It is already clean and we already demolished illegal structures there, the ones near the bride, it’s already fully cleared.)

It can be recalled that a man and his house were swept away by the strong current of river following heavy rains last July 27. Fortunately, he survived the ordeal and was rescued near the South Road Properties tower.

Rama earlier ordered the CCDRRMO to order evacuation of individuals living in these areas to safer grounds, knowing that these places are considered danger zones.

Once the Kinalumsan river will be fully dredged and deepened, CCDRRMO will proceed with the clearing of the riverbanks of the Lahug River, according to Alcontin. —JMD (FREEMAN)