Closed drainage blamed for flooding, dengue risk in Talisay
With the drainage system blocked, residents of barangays Cansojong and Poblacion in Talisay City are complaining of stagnant, ankle-deep floodwater.
In barangay Cansojong, at least ten houses were flooded since the weekend.
Residents said it would take five to six days for the water to subside.
Barangay Cansojong chairman Nick Hermosa said that the water comes from a water lagoon in barangay Poblacion located near Ngosiuk, a noodle factory.
He complained that the waterway has been closed by Cansojong resident Junjun Canton.
“He closed the waterway because the water from the noodle factory smells bad and is very turbid,” said Hermosa.)
He said the water exits at a private beach resort owned by the Canton family.
When Cebu Daily News visited the area, the house of Concepcion Warnac, 60, was still flooded.
Warnac said the stagnant water has been there since May and has never subsided.
The floodwater also came from the canals that overflowed in the area.
“If it rains, water from the canal overflows and pools here,” Warnac added.
Hermosa said the solution may be to divert the waterway to a vacant lot before it finally drains to the sea.
Dengue risk
“Magsige gud ko ug spray ug anti-dengue para way daghan lamok kay at risk kaayo ang health sa atong residents,” Hermosa added.
(I always spray insect repellants to ward off dengue mosquitoes. Many are at risk here because of this problem.)
Hermosa added that they have brought up the issue to the Mayor’s Office but no action has been made yet.
Alfredo Sipalay, Talisay City Legal Officer, have already conducted an ocular inspection at the area.
He said the Canton family is willing to open the drainage again, with the agreement that a water treatment system be placed.
He added that they would be calling the attention of the noodle factory’s owner.
However, Sipalay said that another option is to expropriate a portion of the land of the Canton residence.
He said that if the plan will be implemented, it would address the problem of flooding in the two barangays. /Joy Cherry Quito, Reporter with reports from Gabriel Bonjoc
