Mandaue gets 2 vacuum trucks for “tight” areas

CEBU, Philippines — Two vacuum trucks are set to expand Mandaue City’s drainage-clearing operations into interior areas that cannot be reached by the city’s existing 10-wheeler units.

The trucks are intended to access narrow barangay roads and alleyways, allowing the city to clear mud, debris, and vegetation from smaller drainage systems and waterways in hard-to-reach areas.

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano said the additional equipment was part of the city’s efforts to strengthen its declogging and cleaning operations, particularly as the city prepares for periods of heavy rainfall.

“Nagsige man na og declogging ug cleaning atong engineering team pero kani siyang vacuum trucks dako g’yud kaayo ni’g gamit, mas dali ang paglimpyo nila sa atong mga existing drainage network sa city,” Ouano said.

City Engineer’s Office head Engr. Louie Rey Biton said the smaller units will allow personnel to reach drainage systems located along narrow roads and alleyways.

“The intention and purpose nato aning vacuum trucks nga gagmay kay para maka-access siya sa eskinita, so hopefully ma-declog ug ma-desilt na nato ang gagmay nga eskinita nga drainage,” Biton said.

Biton said the trucks will be used to remove accumulated mud, debris, and vegetation from drainage systems and creeks that are inaccessible to the larger vacuum trucks.

Ouano said the equipment would be particularly useful in interior portions of barangays where the city’s 10-wheeler vacuum truck cannot enter.

“Bisan pa’g init pa kaayo, sige-sige sad ni sila’g tuyok sa mga kabaranggayan. Dako sad ni’g tabang ilabi na sa interior portions nga dili masudlan sa atong 10-wheeler nga vacuum truck,” Ouano said.

The two vacuum trucks were formally turned over to the city government last September 14, and will augment the equipment being used by the City Engineer’s Office for flood-mitigation work.

Ouano said city teams have continued inspecting and clearing drainage systems in different barangays ahead of periods of increased rainfall.

The city is also expecting two mobile pump trucks, which will be used to remove accumulated floodwater during flooding incidents.

However, Ouano said the two vacuum trucks are still awaiting official registration before they can be fully deployed.

The additional equipment is expected to supplement the city’s existing flood-mitigation resources, particularly in areas where access has been a challenge for larger equipment. (CEBU NEWS)