City allocates zero fund for flood control in 2017

CEBU, Philippines - The P7.2-billion annual budget Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has proposed for 2017 does not include allocations for flood-control projects. Does this mean the floods are here to stay?

Not so, according to City Engineer Josefa Ylanan.

Ylanan said she was instructed by the mayor to implement the drainage projects that have remained in the pipeline over the last few years.

“We have several flood-mitigating projects nga pending pa kay bag-o pa nahuman ang POWE (program of works and estimates). So, ato nang i-implement before we will submit another budget for any drainage project,” she said.

The over P1.5 billion worth of drainage projects that remain unimplemented under the 2015 budget, along with some items under the 2016 budget, prompted Cebu City Hall’s Department of Engineering and Public Works not to include any flood-control project in Osmeña’s proposed annual budget, said City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia.

“They mayor has the discretion to implement the P1.5 billion budget,” Gumia said.

Very soon, Ylanan said, the city will be declogging and desilting creeks and rivers, especially since it’s already rainy season.

Councilor Jerry Guardo, for his part, said he has yet to scrutinize the proposed budget for next year, particularly the area that he is concerned the most — infrastructures.

Guardo is the chairman of the council’s Committee on Infrastructure.

“I’m planning to deliver a privilege speech by next week with regard sa flood control. Sa flood control, grabe ang ulan, almost every afternoon. Ang akong awhag sa executive, ang city engineer nato should focus our resources especially sa kaning mga flood-control and mitigating projects,” he said.

Guardo said the city should heed the sentiments of the residents who are the ones being inconvenienced by floods. For him, the city should prioritize implementing the flood-control projects, adding that “vertical improvements can wait.”

“Primarily, ang clamor karon is ang flood. Mao gyud na nga inconvenience nga na feel sa mga tawo karon. I hope that the executive would reconsider the budget for flood-control projects this year,” he said.

Further, he said he is hoping that the DEPW will also sit with the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 since it has on its drawing board at least P700 million worth of flood-control projects from the national government.

Guardo said he was informed that the DPWH has yet to finish the feasibility study of the P700 million worth of projects to be implemented in the city.

“Ang concern sa DPWH is they can’t implement the projects because there are people nga affected. We need budget para sa mga ma-displace,” he said.

Meanwhile, DEPW is proposing other projects, including the renovation of the Cebu City Condominium (P26.8 million); construction of fence at Osmeña Shrine (P15 million); concrete fencing of the South Road Properties (P12 million); construction of Portland cement concrete pavement at Campo to Country Mall, Lahug Road to Sugbo Homes, Lahug Road going to Rotonda (over P20 million), among others.

Osmeña recently sent the budget proposal to the council for review. The council has scheduled a budget hearing for October 25. (FREEMAN)