Rama to push for dredging of city’s rivers, creeks

THE devastation left by Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City has challenged Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to pursue the dredging of water bodies in the city.

“We have to face the problem of constricted, silted and the loss of water bodies so that we will be spared (from a similar tragedy),” he said.

Rama was in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Thursday to hand to their elected officials financial assistance from the Cebu city government for their typhoon recovery efforts.

The City Council earlier approved the release of P6 million from the city’s 2011 calamity funds.

Of the cash assistance, Cagayan de Oro will get P3 million, P2 million for Iligan City and P1 million for Negros Oriental.

City information officer Carlo Dugaduga, disaster office head Alvin Santillana and protocol office head Ryan Echeveria were with accompanied Rama in the trip.

“I have seen with my own two eyes how dreadful the sight (of the calamity which hit Cagayan de Oro) was,” he said.

Rama said he saw that some heavy equipment remained at the bottom of a river there after having been washed by floodwater brought by the typhoon.

He said that while the river is now dry, its depth increased to 18 feet after the flooding.

Rama said what he saw during his Cagayan de Oro visit made him more determined to continue dredging of water bodies here.

The mayor said he wanted dredging of the Mahiga Creek especially the portion at the back of the old pepsi, which is still ocupied by shanties.

“We will not back out from doing our job so that we will not be counting bodies (when tragedy hits),” said Rama.

The city government has set aside P160 million for the desilting of its drainage system.

City engineering personnel already surveyed the Bulacao river on Thursday for dredging.  Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac