About P40.8 million was set aside from the 2014 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas to fund flood control and drainage projects in Cebu City’s north district next year.
The appropriation includes the P20.8 million to fund the dredging at the mouth of the Mahiga Creek in order to facilitate an unimpeded flow of inland water into the sea.
Engr. Nicomedes Leonor of the Cebu City Engineering District said a portion of the creek located near the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) compound is heavily silted inhibiting rainwater from the inland from flowing into the sea especially during high tide.
“Because the area is already heavily silted, this causes flooding in the upstream,” he said.
Leonor said the dredging project is already scheduled for bidding in November and will be implemented early next year.
The Cebu City government had been trying to convince the CPA to facilitate the dredging of a portion of the Mahiga Creek located near their compound while the city government dredges the upstream. However, the CPA has not responded to the city’s request.
Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district said the P20.8 million dredging of the Mahiga Creek was one of the projects requested by north district barangay officials.
The remaining P20 million is a lump sum appropriation to be spent on building five water impounding areas in barangays Pulang Bato, Budlaan and Busay and at the upstream of the Sayaw bridge in barangay Adlaon.
But Leonor admitted that he cannot be certain that the DPWH-funded drainage projects were in accordance with flood mitigating projects identified in the city’s 2006 drainage master plan.
“I have to ask for a copy of the master plan from the city engineering office so we can better coordinate the projects,” he said.
The Cebu City Council invited City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez to update them on the master plan. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters