Talisay folks complain about flooding in barangay

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Sitio Rattan, Barangay Tangke in Talisay City have complained of knee-deep flood in their area which has reportedly been the situation for years already.

“Hasul kaayo kada adlaw moagi diha, hugaw ra ba kaayo,” said Olive Tambasen, a resident in the area.

Tambasen said sometimes she would have to carry her daughter, a high school student, to keep her shoes from getting wet from the murky floodwaters.

If she has extra money, she would pay for a pedicab ride for her daughter.

She said the area has since been that way since the implementation of a road concreting project, which was started by the administration of former Talisay City mayor Socrates Fernandez.

This was stalled when a family threatened to sue the city government since it was reportedly their property.

Since then, Tambasen said, the whole area, which spans at least 50 meters long, has become a catch basin for rainwater and waste water from the neighborhood.

She said it is reportedly giving those who cross this path without rubber boots rashes and other skin illnesses. The pungent smell is also unbearable, she added.

Mayor Johnny de los Reyes, in a separate interview, said he is already negotiating with the Bacalso family, who claims ownership in the area, and that he had promised to pay the claimants P20,000 each to settle the matter.

“Nikiha na sila sa gobiyerno. So ako na lang gi-negotiate, di na lang ana’ng kiha-kiha, willing man ta mo-settle ana,” he said.

De los Reyes said the claimants have reportedly agreed on his terms and will meet him again next week to finalize everything.

He said once the matter with the claimants is settled, the construction of the unfinished road project will resume. He said he will also add a drainage system to make sure Sitio Rattan will not experience flood again.

The mayor assured that by the end of this month, the problem of the residents will be addressed.  (FREEMAN)