Massive dredging of city’s creeks set

CEBU, Philippines —  The Task Force Gubat sa Baha Technical Working Group has called on barangay captains in flood-prone areas in the City of Cebu to attend a very important meeting this Wednesday at the Mayor’s conference room.

Retired Army colonel Jefferson Omandam announced the said meeting over the Barangayan, Bayanihan, Boluntarismo of Mayor Mike Rama’s special assistant Ramil Ayuman and City Health Department’s assistant head, Dr. Jeffrey Ibones over XFM yesterday.

Omandam said it is very important for these barangay captains to attend the meeting so they can plan out their plans and schedules well in line with the massive dredging and desilting and declogging of the city’s rivers and creek.

Dredging and desilting are very much needed right now to alleviate flooding in the city especially in the downtown area while the recovery of the three-meter easement has not yet gone full blast.

Omandam said they are just happy that the Department of Public Works and Highway has cooperated and agreed to work with the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works for its dredging efforts.

Aside from DPWH, the CHD, PROBE, CESET and the Cebu City Police Office and other government agencies are also expected to extend their help and ensure that all goes well and smoothly.

Before going full blast in the recovery of the city’s rivers, the city government still needs a relocation site for the affected residents.

Hopefully the transitional housing will already be made available this October.