Politics delays answer to flooding

Last Friday evening and Saturday morning,  heavy rains poured in the city. I reckon, once again, the downpour resulted in unfortunate experiences for  people in low-lying areas or living near rivers and creeks,  where  flooding caused damage to property and stalled vehicles.

An adequate drainage system should  be in place by now because urban flooding has been with us for years. City residents expect the city government to address this perennial problem.

But partisan politics is eating much of the time and effort of the city government, especially with a council that is no longer friendly with the mayor and has been repeatedly  blocking  nearly all  programs of the mayor, including the drainage master plan.

The national government would have been an ally here but the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would rather focus on building flyovers to help solve traffic congestion instead of the poor drainage system.

Many  people don’t  understand the rationale of the agency in pursuing what some people call anti-poor projects. They are confused over a  congressman who insists on implementing  flyover projects even though the mayor and other stakeholders are opposing  them.

What is so compelling a reason for the congressman to push for  new flyovers when there is a  more pressing need for government  attention and  a budget for a better drainage system in the city? A P600 million outlay could have been put to good use  for  flood control instead of a two-lane flyover.

Congressmen in Cebu should listen to the expert opinion of urban planners about what   should be  implemented in the city and not  insist on their own plans. It is hoped that the Aquino administration puts a premium on the  voice of the local government unit and not allow members of the House of Representatives  to impose their will  as if a locality is their little kingdom.

* * *

Recently a  depository bank of the Cebu city government froze the city’s P124 million account because of a court’s garnishment order  in relation to the Rallos case

But the Court of Appeals already  issued a writ of preliminary injunction preventing the garnishment of the city’s bank deposits. The  Philippine Postal Savings bank failed to acknowledge this.

That is why to play safe the Postal Bank wants a notice from the Court of Appeals that would compel the bank to lift the tagging of the city’s bank deposits.

One  wonders why the Postal Bank seems to take the side of the Rallos claimants despite the ruling of the Court of Appeals that was already reported in the news.

City Hall should give the Postal Bank a copy of the CA decision right away for  proper guidance. This would give the proper perspective of the case and show that the Rallos claimants don’t have a valid claim of the P133 million compensation for  a property that was already donated by the original owners to the city government.

The donation is  evidenced by a contract that was approved by the Court of First instance in 1940, a document deliberately hidden from the public to make it appear that the Rallos family or its heirs have a rightful claim  against the city.

It’s funny that the contract was in existence  since 1940 and the previous city administration failed to present it in court to prove its case. And you ask why?