Subdivisions cause town floods?: Consolacion mayor attributes floods to ‘reckless’ approval of real estate projects

CEBU, Philippines - The "reckless" approval of subdivision plans in Consolacion has worsened flooding in some areas, Mayor Teresa Alegado said during her recent State of the Town Address.

One of the biggest challenges that she said she inherited from previous administrations was the "reckless approval of subdivision plans within the municipality with total disregard on the environmental effects of such undertakings.” 

At present, Alegado said they are suffering the effects of such "wanton abandonment." Areas like Pitogo, Garden Blooms Subdivision and Laray are now facing the risk of flooding, she pointed out.

To this end, her administration has called upon various developers Consolacion and the adjacent Lilo-an town to come up with an agreement to help solve the flooding problem.

"We earmarked the amount of P40 million to come up with flood-mitigating projects together with the private sector. It is worthy to note that we are now in the design phase of such projects," she added.

12-PT AGENDA

"Mine is an overall development plan that touches every area of concern," she told members of the Municipal Council, barangay officials, employees and the public in her SOTA on Wednesday at the SM Consolacion City Mall.

"We all know that the country is closely guided by the global and regional millennium development goals so we have to focus our direction into that goal," she said.

The mayor also noted that her administration's overall emphasis is on uplifting people from poverty. She said this can only be attained if socio-economic development projects for the greater majority will be considered.

Alegado said they have to initiate a culture of transparency and accountability to provide an environment conducive to economic growth, as well as to establish a culture of trust in the government and empower people.

Her accomplishments, she added, were based on the 12-point agenda adopted by her administration in addressing the needs of the people of Consolacion.

The town's chief executive enumerated what she called were her accomplishments, such as the improvement on basic social services; environmental protection, rehabilitation and preservation; support on education programs and upgrade on facilities; expanded health programs; enhancement on economy or poverty alleviation.

She said she has also worked on innovating agriculture programs, prioritizing peace and order, valuing heritage and culture, amplifying tourism and boosting infrastructure.

She, however, admitted that the success of the programs implemented by her administration can also be attributed to the support of Vice Mayor Aurelio Damole, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay officials, business and private sectors and the people. (FREEMAN)