Coastal barangays dismayed

ORMOC CITY, Philippines - Three days after the May 6 floods in this city due to typhoon Bebeng, five chairmen of low lying barangays in this city, who branded themselves as coastal block, aired their dissatisfaction over the inaction or failure of some government agencies and officials in minimizing the recurrence of flood in their respective areas.

Barangay Punta Chairman Glen Maglasang, the designated spokesperson, told The FREEMAN that the flooding in the barangays of Tambulilid, Linao, Punta, Alegria and Bantigue has been affecting their constituents for some time now.

The latest flooding was different than the past due to its stronger current, and depth and it happened during dry season, Maglasang said.

An engineer by profession, Maglasang assailed the city engineering office, headed by OIC Ranulfo Oliveros, for the latter's absence in the flooded area which otherwise could have been vital in assessing the situation.

"If they were there, they could have had presented an A1 report to the mayor who in turn can respond calculatingly," he said, adding that he was also dismayed over the no-show of Liga ng mga Barangay officers during the disaster.

"We were overwhelmed by the sheer force of nature, we can't answer all the distress calls from our constituents. The presence of our colleagues in the Liga could have eased the fear, anxiety and sufferings of the people," he said.

The coastal block further appealed to authorities to require any person, entity, especially business establishments to secure barangay clearance before constructing a building. "This is to ensure that appropriate drainage and other safety measures be imposed by the concerned barangay," Maglasang said.

Maglasang pointed out the failure of Office of Building Official Lani Bernal who could have done more in pressuring a newly built mall "to have its extra water drain to nearby Anilao River instead of to the city's drainage system, which has smaller capacity."

The OBO could have also prevented a subdivision developer from encroaching into the river way, and advised a fuel depot and contractors of a DepEd building to improve their drainage before submitting their plans to the mayor, Maglasang said. "The new drainage system has effectively spared the city's higher lying barangays, but not ours because we have smaller waterways and, as such, the catch basin," he said.

Barangay Alegria Chairman Mario Catingub, whose barangay hosts a mall, said he found it unusual that, after three days, flood waters were still present in areas surrounding the mall. "Residents complained of the sudden flow and hipline-height of the floods, which they did not experience before the mall was built here," he said.

Barangay Tambulilid Chairman Ronaldo Roca said a subdivision developer, in his barangay, has reclaimed 25 meters into Jaubon River and this constricted the water passage. "if this can be corrected, maybe floodwaters will not reach breast or neckline in depth," he said.

The city councilor in charge of this barangay is Sotero Pepito, who they complained also of alleged inaction over the problem. Pepito however has yet to issue an statement on the issue.

Barangay Linao Chairperson Janet Almario Pulido, who evacuated 33 families with one house washed away by the flood, supported the contention of Roca. She too appealed for action from authorities to stop a fuel depot from allegedly blocking the waters to its outlet.

Barangay Bantigue Chairman Rodulfo Ramos also complained about smaller-than-standard drainage canals in his barangay as one of the causes of the floodings.

The coastal block clarified however they were never against the mayor or the city's development, contending that they raised these concerns to make the concerned officials act on the problem, and to authorize barangay officials to have a say, by requiring barangay clearances, in the issuance of building construction permits.

"We do not need relief goods, we need lasting solution to a perpetual problem and we believe that by having a say in our jurisdiction, we can contribute to the solution," they said. – THE FREEMAN