Exec questions riprap work at Bulacao river

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Raul Cabañero questioned yesterday the riverbank riprap at the Cebu City side of Bulacao river, saying they were not consulted on the project's implementation.

Cabañero, who is an ex-officio member of the City Council representing the Association of Barangay Councils, said the project has reportedly been completed even if the "other side" was not consulted. Cabañero is the captain of Barangay Bulacao.

Cebu City engineering district head Fernando Cruz said the project was just along the existing riverbank of Cebu City. Cruz said they did not encroach nor constrict the waterway of the river.

Cruz added that the project was constructed to prevent the riverbank from scouring that may endanger the lives of the people living in the area.

He also said the project is one among of the calendar year 2014 infrastructure program funded under the General Appropriation Act, which limits within the Cebu City jurisdiction.

"Much of our desire to protect the lives of our people, this office is not authorized to go beyond our limits," Cruz said.

But while the riprap slope of the riverbank protection is at the Cebu City side of Bulacao river, Cabañero pointed out that the Bulacao, Talisay City portion will be at "high-risk." The river is between two barangays: Bulacao of Cebu City and Bulacao of Talisay City.

"The riprapping made by the government of Cebu City causes the waterway of our Bulacao river narrower and when heavy rains come, floods will overflow in our place as we have experienced for the past years," the petition letter addressed to Bulacao Barangay Council read.

The contract with St. Bernardine Construction and Enterprises has just been completed early this month.

Cabañero said he already requested Bulacao Barangay Captain Rodrigo Jabella of Cebu City to host a joint conference to discuss more on the issue.

"We are obliged to talk this matter with you as a matter of protocol and find ways to address this predicament," Cabañero said in his letter addressed to Jabellana.

Jabellana, on the other hand, said he is amendable to the joint conference with other barangays with the presence of personnel from the Cebu City district engineering office.  (FREEMAN)