Solving Lapu-Lapu’s floor woes

Heavy rains over the past days inundated low-lying areas in the barangays of Lapu-Lapu City, causing undue discomfort and inconvenience to residents.  Responding to a request for immediate help and assistance from residents, concerned barangay officials deployed the appropriate equipment to siphon off the floodwater in the affected areas.

Local government officials have the duty and responsibility that the government's standard safety and/or environmental policy is given utmost importance in the construction of houses, buildings, subdivisions, etc.

Promoting residential subdivisions in the city is a laudable concept; however, the impact it brings to the neighboring communities and the environment should be taken into account. Needless to say, previous local government officials failed in this regard.

The present administration of Lapu-Lapu City under Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan seems to be in the right direction in managing the internal affairs of the city, particularly in containing the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The good mayor even participated in the distribution of food aid to the barangays during the enhanced community quarantine. In fact, he was infected with the deadly disease but in God's mercy, he fully recovered from it.

I have heard that Mayor Chan visited several areas of the barangays of the city affected by floodwater. He even went to my barangay and saw the pitiful condition of the residents wading in knee-deep or even waist-deep floodwater. The barangay chief and a handful of barangay council members accompanied him in going to the site of the flooding.

During his visit, he noted the complaints of the affected residents blaming the construction of the residential subdivision as the main cause of flooding in their area. Added to this was the improper installation of the drainage system.

The area where the residential subdivision is situated was an open space before, a rocky fishpond that served as an outlet for the rushing floodwater during heavy downpour. But now, it is totally closed with concrete wall, leaving the neighboring residential houses outside of it suffer the brunt of the flooding.

Mayor Chan's presence in the area was really a manifestation of his all-out support to the barangay chief regardless of party affiliation so as to prove to everyone that loyalty to one's party ends when loyalty to the people begins. Public welfare prevails over that of one's vested interest.

Joselito S. Berdin

Lapu-Lapu City