CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council has authorized Mayor Socrates Fernandez to negotiate with any reliable financial institution for a loan to finance the city’s integrated drainage masterplan.
In yesterday’s council session, City Councilor Rodi Cabigas said the city is lacks the means at present to carry out a comprehensive drainage masterplan that will cost at least P120 million.
Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that as a general policy, “it shall be the basic policy that any local government unit may create indebtedness, and avail of credit facilities to finance local infrastructure and other socio-economic development projects in accordance with the approved local development plan and public investment program.
Cabigas also pointed out that “a local government unit may likewise secure from any government bank and lending institution short, medium, and long-term loans and advances against security of real estate or other acceptable assets for the establishment development or expansion of agricultural, industrial, commercial, house financing and livelihood projects, and other economic enterprises.
Cabigas, chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Budget Management and Ways and Means, yesterday said the Master Drainage Plan will help address the perennial flooding problem in the city.
“Given the urgency of the project, the Master Drainage Plan has already been completed,” Cabigas said.
Cabigas is also the chairman of the city council committee on public infrastructure.
Since the council has already authorized the mayor to negotiate with any financial institution, Cabigas also authorizes the city engineering department and the city planning and development office to prepare relevant materials and plan and specification in connection to the implementation of the first phase of the master drainage plan of the city.
Cabigas said City Hall needs to start phase one of the project covering two flood-prone barangays, Bulacao and Cansojong.
The Cansojong creek, which runs towards the neighboring coastal villages of Tanke and San Roque, serves as one of the drainage outfalls in the city.
It takes in water from barangays Poblacion and Tabunok.
The two other major outfalls are Mananga and Bulacao Rivers. - THE FREEMAN