Talisay takes steps to remedy flooding

CEBU, Philippines - After heavy rains, more and more areas in Talisay City are flooded raising fears that the number of flood-related diseases and dengue cases due to stagnant rain water could go up.

 Public Information Officer Arturo Bas however assured residents that the city government is doing its best to drain the floodwater and has ordered the anti-dengue task force to conduct mist-blowing in areas where there are likely to have dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

 Yesterday morning, a team from the office of the city engineer was sent to Lawaan 3 Elementary School to pump out a pool of rainwater from a low-lying area, he said.

 The past days, teachers and parents of the schoolchildren had expressed apprehensions that stagnant water might be hosting dengue-carrying mosquitoes. 

 Bas said the city only learnt about the situation from a report by a television network, therefore, it was only yesterday morning that the city hall had sent men to draw out water from that portion of the school ground.

 Meanwhile, residents of sitios Machacao, Seguerra Compound, and Tangkungan, barangay Poblacion, also share the same fears.

 These areas have been flooded for more than a week owing to the rains.

 In sitio Tangkungan, for one, rainwater which was stuck for several days already due to lack of a drainage system, is already emitting foul odor.

 "Basta sige og uwan, ingun ani man gyud ni. Magsige mi og habwa, pero og mouwan na sad, bisag usa lang ka-oras, balik napud og baha. Naanad nalang mi ani nga sitwasyon," said Christy, one of the residents there whose house was also flooded.

 An 18-year-old daughter of a resident there was rushed to hospital the other day reportedly because of dengue.

 Some areas in Machacao and Seguerra Compound have also been experiencing the same, irritating the residents there for the city's inaction.

 But Bas said the city has "no idea" of the situation, and besides it is the barangay's responsibility to find remedies.

 The barangay, for its part, has dredged a small open canal to allow the floodwater to freely flow to the main canal along the street.

 But with the deluge of rainwater brought about by days of heavy rains, the small canal proved to be of no use. Residents who have to walk through ankle-deep water everyday have been fed up with the barangay's incapacity to address the situation.

 "Kung dili na makaya sa barangay, mo-report sila sa city hall para kami na ang mobuhat sa trabaho," said Bas.

 Earlier, barangay Councilman Gabriel Bonjoc had said that they had already asked the assistance of the fire department to suck out the floodwater in these areas but since it is not that deep, they resorted to just making small canals, for the meantine.

 Bonjoc said according to the fire department the water should be at least one-meter deep for it to do the service.

 Sitios Tangkungan and Machacao have been suffering from floods for years after the private drainage system in the area, which ran through the government main canal in the highway, was closed by the owner of the property.

 An area in Seguerra Compound becomes flooded also due to lack of a drainage system. According to residents there, for "long term" solution of their problem, the government should provide them a drainage system.

 While the city's plan to create a comprehensive drainage system for the entire city is still waiting for funding, Bas yesterday assured that city hall will inspect these areas today, and see what it could do to resolve the issue. — THE FREEMAN