Funding for flood control projects sought

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he will ask for a share of the national government’s P68 billion calamity fund to finance flood control and traffic projects.

“Where is the share of Cebu City? Why not Cebu City? Because we are preparing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit and the International Eucharistic Congress,” Rama said.

Joey Daluz, head of Project Reduce Danger Zones (ReDZ), said the group identified the rivers in Mahiga, Lahug, Guadalupe, Kinalumsan and Bulacao as priority areas in addressing the city’s flooding problem.

Daluz, who also chairs the Cebu City River Management Council (CCRMC) and a member of the Water Management Task Force (WMTF) said he wants to integrate and coordinate the two groups with Project ReDZ.

“Since we are concerned with the same issues, we must come up with one policy and one advocacy,” Daluz said.

Once these groups are integrated, Daluz said they will focus on building a model waterway at the Mahiga Creek.

“We can set up the model with high riprap and five-meter easement, which is the standard in Japan, and the road. It can be duplicated for the other rivers,” Daluz said.

Daluz said the Public Information Office (PIO) of City Hall distributed flyers and will launch a website on Project ReDZ  before the end of this month.

To celebrate the National Cleanup Month, Daluz said they will conduct a risk assessment on flood prone areas at the Sinulog Hall of the Rizal Memorial Library.

A River Summit will also be held on Sept. 21 at the Cebu International Convention Center. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita

Homeowners SLAM

City Hall’s takeover of basketball court

SOME members of a homeowners association in barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City sought help from the Visayas Ombudsman on Cebu City Hall’s takeover of their basketball court.

Rudy Intoc, an official of the Manggahan Homeowners’ Association, said the basketball court was a project of former congressman Tomas Osmeña and was entrusted to them,

He said they were given until yesterday afternoon by the city government to voluntarily yield  control of the basketball court to Punta Princesa barangay captain.

“The city may padlock the gym. We don’t want the city to take custody of the gym because it is where children play basketball. Sports help them avoid illegal drugs,” Intoc said in an interview. The basketball court is located within the vicinity of the homeowner’s association. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol