THE new vacuum truck procured by the city government of Mandaue for P26 million, started declogging problematic drainage around the city last week.
The truck is equipped with a vacuum hose that can penetrate narrow drainage canals and suck all kinds of debris clogging it.
The equipment was acquired from a US-based firm, Aquatech.
The truck started operating last Thursday, declogging Plaridel Street, barangay Umapad.
Most of the materials recovered by machine were plastics and other non-biodegradable materials.
Meantime, the operation of the equipment is being supervised by a staff of Aquatech, Tryo Wolfz. He is also training local personnel on how to operate the equipment.
The P26 million vacuum truck is the second truck acquired by the city government. A smaller vacuum truck was acquired by the city in 2007.
Achilles Ceniza, head of the Department of General Services said wastes that are thrown indiscriminately are carried by runoff water into the drainage. It then clogs the drainage, causing it to overflow when heavy rains come.
City Administrator James Abadia earlier said that the procurement of the second vacuum truck will greatly help ease flooding in the city as they can now do declogging operations more often. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Reporter