Cebu City officials to meet today

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will have a meeting today with the City Hall’s officials involved in the clearing of Mahiga Creek.

Among those officials called for the meeting are  City Administrator Lucelle Mercado; Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement team chief Raquel Arce; Cebu City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete; and Cebu City River Management Council head Jose Daluz III. 

Rama said they will discuss issues on how to deal with the problems besetting the Mahiga River.

Earlier reports said the mayor has been urging the officials of Mandaue City government to immediately demolish the footbridges over the creek.

He said these footbridges only hinder the flow of the water that will only cause flood during heavy rain.

“That (bridges) is not supposed to be there. That could be an added obstruction of the waterways all of that will have to be (removed). The bridges have been causing a lot of trouble at the same time because that will bring people to have access and build and build and build,” he said.

Last week, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said he was disappointed with Cebu City government for blaming Mandaue City over the flooding problem.

“Nahimo ming recipient sa tubig.  Don’t blame us, (instead,) tabangi mi.  Wa ko makig-away sa Cebu City ha, I’m just telling them what should be done.  Mao ra gyud na akong hangyo ni Mike — enough is enough, stop blaming Mandaue,” Cortes said.

Cortes said Cebu City’s slaughterhouse that lies along the river at the North Reclamation Area will be affected once they will implement the easement law.

In order to settle the problem, Daluz said the CCRMC and the Mandaue City officials will have a meeting tomorrow.

Early this month, Mandaue City implemented the demolition of houses along Mahiga River in Sitio Mahayag, Barangay Subangdaku. – (FREEMAN)