Councilor tells Rama: No blaming, explain drainage plans, projects

THE Cebu City Council wants Mayor Michael Rama to spell out his drainage projects and plans to relocate families living near rivers and danger zones.
The council approved a resolution by Councilor Gerardo Carillo inviting City Engr. Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez to explain the city’s drainage concerns in a publiic hearing on Aug. 28.
In a privilege speech, the councilor asked why the council is always blamed for the city’s flooding problems for its alleged failure to act on budget requests.
“The truth is that nothing has reached the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) on the drainage proposals. You cannot give what you do not have. Much as the Sangunian wanted to respond, nothing has reached us so far,” Carillo said.
“The time has come (for the executive and legislative departments) to stop the buck-passing and instead work us one,” the councilor added.
The council also wanted to hear from the City Treasurer and City Accountant how much unappropriated cash the city still has from its five percent calamity funds and how it will be spent.
The council also wanted the city’s housing board and the Reduction of Danger Zones (ReDZ) task force to present their relocation plans for those within the three-meter easement zone.
Carillo said Cebu City has 8,000 volunteers and equipment like suction pumps to declog drainage systems as well as ordinances that help mitigate flooding like cisterns.
“It (the ordinance) is not just properly implemented I suppose. Even this building (the city hall legislative building) does not have one (water cistern),” he said.
Carillo said the Cebu City government should also consider a proposal by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to create a sinkhole that would serve as a temporary rainwater basin to prevent flooding in the streets.. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac