Capitol to fund 2 drainage projects in Minglanilla

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro has greenlit over P61 million worth of drainage outfall projects in Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla—an urgent infrastructure push aimed at finally addressing the area's flooding woes.

In an interview, Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad confirmed the approval of two major drainage outfall projects, a result of their recent visit to Governor Baricuatro’s office where they presented the town’s long-pending request for flood mitigation support.

“Gov. Pam has been very warm and accommodating. Nangayo mi niya karon ug duha ka drainage projects sa Barangay Calajoan kay kato nga area affected pud intawn sa baha kung mag-uwan,” Enad said.

According to the mayor, Baricuatro committed to implementing the projects after more than a year of delays in securing support from the Capitol for the drainage systems.

In a Facebook post of Enad, he stated: “Kining problema nato sa duha ka dalan, diin maabot taga hawak ang baha, ako nang gipaabot sa Kapitolyo niadto pang 2023. Gipasaligan ta nga trabahoon ug gisigehan nato’g follow up, pero wala gyud maatiman.”

The two approved outfalls include a P44.3-million project stretching from Estoy Vulcanizing Shop to Baybayon, and a P16.7-million project covering the Skina TESDA to Baybayon route—both vital corridors that experience severe water accumulation during storms.

“Kung matuman kini, dako gyud ni’g ikatabang sa mga lumulupyo ngadtong dapita,” he noted.

Enad emphasized that the drainage projects would also benefit the provincial road, explaining that road repairs would not be effective without proper drainage systems in place.

The request was formally backed by a resolution sponsored by Minglanilla Municipal Councilor Lheslen Enad, which was presented to the governor during the delegation’s visit.

"Gi-presentar nako ni Gov. Pam ang proposed program of works, ug ang resolution nga gi-sponsor ni Lheslen. Nisaad si Gov. Pam nga iya kining ipatrabaho karong tuiga,” Enad said.

With the governor’s go signal now secured, the municipal government is optimistic that construction can begin before the year ends

“Hoping ta nga masugdan ni rong tuiga, kay mao pud ang ingon ni Gov (Baricuatro),” he added.

Disaster-ready

Meanwhile, Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Head Dennis Pastor vowed to make the province “disaster-ready.”

Pastor, a retired military soldier with a colonel rank, was appointed by Cebu Provincial Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro as the new head of the DRRMO in the province on July 14 this year.

Just less than a month since his appointment, Pastor assured the Cebuanos to equip and to prepare the province in times of disasters and calamities.

“It’s going to be a disaster-ready unit. That’s what I’m going to promise. (A province) that can respond and that is prepared,” he said during the Openline News Forum on Tuesday, August 5.

Pastor made the promise after he had learned about the disaster response status in the province when he assumed office, describing it in a “bad shape.”

“Without holding back, it is in bad shape… It is not disaster-ready,” he remarked, referring to the disaster response from the previous administration.

He also pointed out the lack of a command center and redundant communication for their office were the factors of the current status of the disaster preparedness in the entire province, emphasizing them as being neglected over the years.

Despite the setbacks from the previous administration, Pastor acknowledged the current governor who supported the initiatives of PDRRMO for the province.

“One thing is very good is that the governor is supporting the office right now. The support is really there,” he said.

To address these issues, Pastor said a command center is already underway and that PDRRMO is already trying to venture feasible and practical ways to achieve redundant communication in disaster response.

In terms of the procurement for the equipment required in response operations, he said that it is now being handled systematically.

“We are doing right now the procurement process. It will take time but it’s not an eternity of the procurement process,” he said.

Pastor also stressed the need to safeguard the community’s tax, following the report of the P1 billion disaster preparedness funds, which failed to be utilized by the Cebu provincial government over the years.

“We have to protect the taxpayers’ money. We have to follow the process. Once we get the procurement done, then we will be improving,” he added.

Meanwhile, a community-based disaster risk management program will also be implemented by the PDRRMO as a simultaneous approach, aimed at providing knowledge to the public on the proper ways of responding to risks.

Pastor said that the initiative is a localized version of the United Nation Sunday Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, which is focused on preventing risk, reducing existing risk, and increasing resilience in the community. — (FREEMAN)