Neda says cost of drainage master plan for Metro Cebu will be P10-P15M

THE integrated drainage master plan for the whole Metro Cebu envisioned by the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 will cost P10 million to P15 million, said National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7 Director Buenaventura Go-Soco.

During the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency) yesterday, Go-Soco said the amount covers the study that will be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the waterways in 13 cities and municipalities in Metro Cebu.

He admitted that the funds have yet to be allocated for the project but he hopes that the DPWH central office in Manila will set aside funding for it.

The RDC Central Visayas last June decided to tap the services of DPWH central office, particularly its Project Management Office-Flood Control Center, to prepare the drainage master plan. The council learned that the DPWH 7 does not have the capabilities to undertake the project.

The DPWH said it wants local government units (LGU) in Metro Cebu to come up with counterpart funds for the project, but it did not say how much.

P400M

Asked if the Cebu City Government is willing to give counterpart funds, Mayor Michael Rama, who also heads the RDC 7, said the DPWH should set aside funds for the drainage master plan.

“Giapil unta nila ang funding kailangan ana sa P400 million (They should have included the funding for that in the P400 million),” he said, referring National Government funds that Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) diverted to the first district of Cebu Province.

The P400 million, which was part of DPWH’s budget, was originally set aside for infrastructure projects identified by Osmeña, such as the proposed flyover between Gorordo Ave. and Doña Modesta Gaisano St. After saying the funds cannot be realigned, Osmeña diverted the same amount to the first district of Cebu Province.

Rama proposed that DPWH collate the master plans of Metro Cebu LGUs and use these as bases for the integrated drainage master plan to avoid huge costs.

The proposal for an integrated drainage master plan for Metro Cebu is an offshoot to the call of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board, headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, asking the DPWH to help solve flooding problems in the metropolis.