DPWH asked to do drainage plan

The Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to work on the drainage masterplan of Metro Cebu.

This move came after heated debates ensued over claims by a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official that they do not have resources to come up with the integrated drainage masterplan for the six cities and seven municipalities covered by the Metro Cebu.

Lea Negre, an engineer from the DPWH Planning and Designs Division told the board that their department does not have resources for the integrated drainage masterplan of Metro Cebu.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama reacted saying: “Why do we have money for flyovers and not this?”

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia then reminded the DPWH official of their earlier recommendation for the local government units (LGU) in Metro Cebu to submit their respective drainage plans to them so they can integrate it into a Metro Cebu Drainage Masterplan.

Eventually, the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) passed a resolution asking the DPWH Project Management Office- Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center in Manila (PMO- FCSEC) to come up with an integrated drainage plan for the Metro Cebu area.

Negre said that of the 13 LGUs under Metro Cebu, only seven have submitted their drainage plan. The remaining six are to submit their drainage master plan by the end of May this year.

The seven LGUs that were able to submit their drainage plan are Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Naga City, Cordova, Liloan and Danao City.

Carcar City is still in the process of doing their survey while Lapu-Lapu City, San Fernando, Minglanilla, Consolacion and Liloan are still going to submit their own drainage plan.

Mayor Rama, who co-chairs the MCDCB, said he will bring this project with DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson.

“If given the chance, we will bring this up. This has to be pursued by the DPWH,” he told reporters in an interview after the meeting.

Governor Garcia also directed the MCDCB’s committee on infrastructure to follow this up and to look into it.

Mayor Rama said drainage issues should be seriously addressed.

“Drainage is important. Should we wait for another big thing to happen, like what happened in Cagayan de Oro and Manila before DPWH would come in? We should do this hand in hand,” he said.