Talisay to assess Bulacao river dredging

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos, chairman of the committee on environment at the City Council, will conduct a thorough environmental assessment if the dredging activity at the Bulacao River will push through.

This is to ensure accommodation of excess water during the rainy season, Bacaltos said.

Last Friday, Bacaltos attended the joint session between the two barangay councils of Bulacao, Cebu City and Bulacao, Talisay City over the implemented construction of a riprap project in the Cebu City side of river.

Bacaltos will assess the suggestions of the barangay officials from Bulacao, Talisay if there is urgency for dredging to appease the apprehensions of the residents in Sitio Crossan over the riprapping project.

Residents have feared the riprap would cause flooding on their side of the waterway during the rainy season.

They also claimed that they were not consulted during the construction and that they fear that flood waters might enter their homes and endanger their lives.

During the conference, the officials from the Cebu City engineering district told the barangay officials of Bulacao, Talisay that they can no longer do something on the project as it is already completed.

They claimed that the project is among those implemented under calendar year 2014 funded under the General Appropriation Act, which limits projects within the Cebu City jurisdiction.

"Bisan amo nang gi-question ang project pero nahuman na man, unsa pa man atong mabuhat? Ang amoa nalang recommendation mao mohimo mi og band-aid solution sa maong gikabalak-an sa among mga residente nga mopahigayon nalang gyud og dredging," said Bulacao, Talisay barangay councilman Banjo Ramos-Abastillas.

Abastillas said the river did not go through any dredging although it is public knowledge that during flood incidents, mud and garbage from upstream are being washed downstream.

Since the waterway is already narrow because of the riprapping at the Cebu City side, the water will have to find its way somewhere else if it's unable to go through its normal course, said Abastillas.

Bulacao barangay chief Raul Cabañero said the river has also become a convenient dump site to those living near the area.  (FREEMAN)