CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas will be prioritizing infrastructure projects in the 2017 annual budget.
He said he is particularly allotting funds for the city's comprehensive drainage master plan to address the problem on flooding.
During the administration of former mayor, now Councilor Socrates Fernandez, the city has conducted feasibility study on the proposed drainage project in some areas.
However, Gullas said, the project was not implemented as well as during the successive administration due to lack of funds.
"Mao man gihapon ang problema, lack of funds," he said.
If the project has been gradually implemented, the city will no longer be facing flooding problems today, according to Gullas.
Flood-prone barangays in the city are Bulacao, Lawaan 1 and 2, Cansojong, Poblacion, Linao and Tabunok.
The mayor said that some barangays already have drainage systems, but are not enough to hold large amount of water.
Aside from the flooding problems, Gullas said he is also concerned about some mountainous barangays being prone to landslide. Cases of landslide, caused by heavy rains, were mostly reported in Barangay Manipis.
Gullas said he trusts the project contractor and the engineering department to address the problem. (FREEMAN)