Cortes asks DPWH to consult with local govts

WITH flooding a major problem in Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways  to coordinate with the city before national projects are implemented.

He asked why a P30 million Dept. Public Works and Highways (DPWH) drainage project along the national highway from barangay Subangdaku to Jagobiao is replacing 36-inch culverts.

“I cannot see the logic of using 36 inch culverts when the barangays are using 40-inch culverts,” he said in a meeting of the Regional Development Council executive committee held yesterday in the Cebu City Hall.

If bigger culverts are not used, floodwater will still overflow into the national highway when it rains.

“Why remove 36-inch culverts for replacement with more 36-inch culverts? Is this proper? Isn’t this a waste of money?” he asked.

His request for a variance order was approved in a floor resolution aside from a resolution calling on the DPWH to follow proper coordination.

Road markings have been made on the road for the project which has yet to start.

Cortes lamented that DPWH has another drainage improvement project in a private lot in Mandaue.

“How can they address our problems if they continue to ignore the LGUs?” said Cortes.

“I’m sure other LGUs are also experiencing the same problems.”

“Sometimes there is a conflict between projects implemented by the LGU and the projects of the congressman. But at the end of the day, it is still the money of the taxpayers. It’s all about the people that we serve,” he said.

DPWH Regional Director Ador Calas who sat beside the mayor just listened and did not comment.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, RDC chairman, later said Mandaue’s concern was a sign of the “imperialism, dominance and insensitivity” of DPWH but that he didn’t want to blame Canlas, who just assumed the post recently.

Flooding is a major problem in 54 barangays.

Water is knee-deep along A. S. Fortuna Street near Rolling Hills Memorial Chapel in Banilad because this is where runoff from the mountain areas flows.

Barangays Canduman and Casuntingan in Mandaue City also serves as the outflow of floodwater coming form barangays Pit-os and Talamban in Cebu City.

“Grabe ang siltation (of the waterways) and the problem is compounded by the presence of garbage,” said Cortes.

However, Cortes said he is not blaming Cebu City and is very grateful for the help which former mayor Tomas Osmeña gave to Mandaue by tapping funding under the Metro Cebu Development Project (MCDP) for the widening of A. S. Fortuna Street.

“We are part of the problem and we are also part of the solution” said Cortes.