CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama is seeking the national government’s intervention to implement the planned dredging of the Mahiga Creek.
Rama said he would write President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Public Works Secretary Ronaldo Singson to ask for their help to let the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) officials to dredge the mouth of the Mahiga Creek near the CPA area.
Rama was referring to the portion of the creek near CPA, which used to be berthing area for the National Power Corp.’s power barge.
“Asa na ilang dredging? I want to remind them to already do their act before anything happens that is tantamount to gross negligence and dereliction of responsibility,” said Rama.
The Cebu City government has allocated P12 million for dredging the rest of the creek.
However, before they could dredge the mouth of the creek, Rama said structures on the Mandaue City’s side would have to be vacated.
He said he would bring this matter with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He said he didn’t want to engage in verbal exchanges with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes on the need to vacate their side of the creek.
Rama also offered to help do the job if Mandaue couldn’t do it.
“If they cannot do it, we are offering our services in coordination with DPWH and DENR. If they think that we are encroaching, that is barking up the wrong tree,” said Rama.
“I don’t want to do anything with Mandaue City but we have to do something with structures encroaching the creek,” he said.
Rama cited the danger to occupants of the structures on the Mandaue side of the creek if they would start dredging operations now.
He said the riprap in Mandaue’s side might collapse during dredging operations and it would be difficult to maneuver heavy equipment if there were settlers there.
But Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede criticized Rama for his efforts to demolish structures at the Mandaue side of the Mahiga Creek.
Bercede called Rama’s action an act of disrespect to the Mandaue City officials.
He said Rama should have coordinated with Mandaue City officials instead of writing the DPWH asking permission to demolish houses in Mandaue City side of Mahiga Creek.
He said Rama shouldn’t touch any of the houses in Mandaue City because it wasn’t already in his jurisdiction.
He advised Rama to instead concentrate on Cebu City because Mandaue officials had their own process in solving the Mahiga Creek settlers problem.
He said the relocation site for the settlers in barangay Pakna-an, Mandaue City, which was expected to be finished on January next year.
Bercede also said that Mandaue officials were willing to meet and discuss the Mahiga Creek issue with Rama but he should be the one to make the first move. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with a report from Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc