Lack of personnel delays Mahiga embankment survey

CEBU, Philippines - The lack of personnel and overloaded survey team has delayed the survey on the embankment of  Mahiga River.

Jose Marie Poblete, chief of the Department of Engineering and Public Works, said the survey is still ongoing.

 Poblete said the survey team was overloaded because it was also assigned to help in the ongoing reconstruction of the Cebu City Medical Center.

Lawyer Jose Daluz III, chairperson of the Reduction Danger Zones project, said he is worried about the delay in the survey. He said the report was supposed to be submitted early this month.

Bernabe Pateño, head of the survey team of the DEPW, said he can already submit the report next month. He said it’s not that easy considering that the city has 80 barangays that anytime might call them for their service.

The illegal structures along the Mahiga River are also affecting the conduct of the survey because they could not put up their equipment.

 â€œDi man gud na madali karon. Ang lote tanan kay puno sa balay isig kakilid kinahanglan iplastar (equipment),” Pateño said.

Although they have hired seven additional personnel, they still need to train them to do the job.

“Naa may nangabot pero i-train pa namo, dili man ang nangabot dayon kahibaw na,” he added.

Daluz said he hopes the DEPW is doing the survey otherwise they will hire private surveyor.

The P6 million embankment project will be opened for public bidding on Wednesday.

The city government has allocated P100 million for the rechanneling of the Mahiga River and another P30 million for the acquisition of lots.

Daluz is encouraging informal settlers within the three-meter easement zone to leave area.

The city is planning to build two condominium buildings at the old Lorega Cemetery for Mahiga residents affected by the project. (FREEMAN)