City government to use rent funds for river desilting machine

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government will utilize the ?100 million budget appropriation for rental of equipment for the new declogging machine that will mitigate flooding by desilting the riverbeds.

This according to Task Force Gubat sa Baha chief implementer Mel Feliciano in an interview yesterday.

Feliciano said that they are now in the process of testing a mechanical desilting and declogging machine that can suck the debris and silt of riverbeds. It can fill a dump truck with 34 tons of debris and silt in 30 minutes. He added they are prioritizing to deploy these machines for Mahiga Creek and Lahug River.

Feliciano said the machine was supplied by Innomech Tooling and Engineering Services which will serve as the first mechanized approach in desilting the rivers. Although there is funding allotted for procurement, the only available funding for now is the rental funds.

“Especially kung naay water, maglisod man gud ang mga backhoe, malabay raman gihapon ang uban… makasud ni siya (sa narrow streets),” said Feliciano.

Although it is still in the process of testing, Feliciano said they have a budget allocation of ?100 million in rental funds that will be charged to the budget of Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia also said yesterday that the measures against flooding are being given priority to brace for the looming La Niña which may result in a persistent flooding problem.

He added PAGASA said the La Niña phenomenon will begin in August and will persist until first quarter of next year. Garcia said this innovation will serve as preventive measures of the city to minimize flooding. — (FREEMAN)