DAVAO City Ancillary Services Unit (ASU) head Rhodelio Poliquit has urged concerned drivers to claim the plate numbers that flashfloods have washed away at their office located at Magsaysay Park.
In a media interview Friday, Poliquit said their office collected nine plate numbers they found in the area of La Verna Hills.
He said that every time it rains he sends out his 32-man team to check the possible flooded areas and sometimes they collect lost items in the flood, including plate numbers.
"Ang number one nga padaganan nako kay ang La Verna, atong Diversion Road kay diha jud ang lalom gani daghan kaayo ko’g plate number. Akong gi-announce kadtong nangawala nga plate number, once mag cross ka sa baha mangatanggal man ang plate number naa siguro koy napulo (The number one area where I deploy personnel is at La Verna area in Diversion road because that is where the flood waters run deepest. Once vehicles cross the flood, some plate numbers are yanked off by the rampaging waters, right now I have around ten of it)," he said.
He said owners of plate numbers will only need to show their vehicle registration to claim the plate number.
As to the continued urban flooding, Poliquit said it is only normal during heavy rains and will only be alarming when it will not subside until morning.
"Lalo na kung kusog ang buhos sa ulan tungod sa atong surface sementado na tanan so ang pag-absorb sa tubig dili na parehas sa ubang panahon ang aton lang pud nga isiguro nga once kusog kaayo ang ulan sa pareha kagabii, ang atong urban flooding kay diri raman sa siyudad ang nagabaha..atong ginapaninguha dira na after sa ulan two to three hours mag subside, that means we are successful and nagfunction ang mga canal. (During heavy downpour, since almost all of our surface is already cemented, the absorption of the water is not the same as the previous years, and what we ensure is… after the rain, two or three hours later the flood should have subsided, that means we are successful and our canals are working)," he said.
Poliquit added that changing of the culverts into those with larger diameters is now being worked out by the City Government and the National Government through the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He said that the Victoria Plaza area is still prone to flood due to the clogged canals in Obrero, which is also location of the main drain.
Poliquit added that he often dispatches his night team to help remove accumulated water in that area.
He said there is still much to be done with the drainage of the city.
Currently the drainage works are being done in Candelaria St. fronting Davao City Overland Transport Terminal, for the change of culverts.
Poliquit said there are also a lot of ongoing drainage projects done by local and national offices.
He also advised the community to participate and help their office by cleaning up canals in the community, and be responsible with the canals located in their community.