Talisay ready to implement drainage project

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City government is now reportedly ready to implement it its drainage masterplan project, three years after it was conceptualized.

"We are now waiting for the final report from Engr. (Pedro) Compendio. After that we can start the implementation of this drainage project," said Councilor Rodi Cabigas, chairman on council committee on Infrastructure.

Cabigas told The Freeman that he was about to meet with Compendio, of SPACESytems.4719- which made a study of the city's drainage-last Friday but the latter had to cancel it for another appointment.

The legislator said in that meeting Compendio would have shown to city officials a power presentation of his study in 2008.

In late 2008, SPACESytems.4719, a drainage consultancy firm, was commissioned by Talisay to do a study of the drainage system.

The study which only took about five months has yet to present the results to the city government, the purported reason why the project has been stalled.

Another reason is the budget. Accordingly, the project, which is intended to solve the perennial flooding in the low-lying areas of Talisay, will need at least P110 million to kick off.

In yesterday's interview, Cabigas said that's another concern that the city government is "working out" now.

Today, in their special session, Cabigas said he will raise this issue to the council.

Earlier, city officials admitted it does not have the funds needed to implement the project.

It is however willing to do it on a phase-by-phase basis, and the money released in little tranches.

First district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, however, does not believe that the city, which has a present income of more than P400 million, can not support this long-term solution of flooding.

According to him, the city, under the mayorship of Mayor Socrates Fernandez, just does not know how to prioritize its projects. - THE FREEMAN