Radaza turns to DPWH for clogged drainage

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has called the attention of the Department of Public Works and Highways to cleanup a clogged drainage near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge along Manuel L. Quezon Highway in Barangay Pusok.

This after residents in the area have experienced knee-deep floodwater last early this month.

Last October 1, the city experienced heavy downpour that generated flooding near the second bridge, further causing traffic jam in the outbound and inbound lanes of the bridge connecting Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City.

Motorists and drivers of public utility jeepneys and private vehicles were having a difficult time dealing with the heavy traffic under the rain at that time.

Radaza recalled that the DPWH was filling the scraped road with asphalt a couple of months ago and left the excess asphalt linger along the side of the drainage.

The group responsible for the road maintenance was not able to notice the excess asphalt, according to the mayor, and left it unattended.

Radaza said that the roadwork department has fixed the drainage two days after the three hour heavy rainfall.

"So far, we haven't seen flood again since the asphalt covering the drains was removed," she said.

Since the city has contracted a firm to fix drainages, the mayor identified Barangays Basak, Poblacion and Pusok to undergo immediate de-clogging operations.

She added that the city also plans to build cisterns to flood prone areas of Sitio Bagong Silang in Barangay Pajac, Sitio Langub in Barangay Poblacion and another area in Barangay Pusok.

As of now, however, the mayor has not yet identified the timeframe for the planned project.

Earlier, City Councilor Queenie Malingin-Amman shared a plan to sponsor an ordinance which requires all establishments and households to make a facility that would catch rainwater to prevent floods.

She said she will check if there is already an outstanding ordinance implemented to this end and if there's none, she said she is open to the idea of proposing one. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)