THE Office of the City Building Official (Ocbo) in Davao City will issue a stoppage order to construction firms proven to be dumping their construction wastes such as debris, sands, and gravel to drainage canals.
This came after Ancillary Services Unit (ASU) head Paul Bermejo revealed that his personnel recovered some of these wastes during their cleanup operations in the city.
Bermejo said he personally saw construction malpractices made by some private firms, including in Agdao and Talomo.
Ocbo head Cirinia Grace Catubig said she will wait for Bermejo's formal complaint before her office could take necessary steps.
"Ako usa hulaton iya i-submit na particular na lugar para ma-advice pud to nga contractor or owner (I will wait first his report what company is it and where is it specifically located so that we will notify the contractor or owner about the complaint)," Catubig told Sunstar Davao Tuesday, June 18.
While the specific guidelines on construction waste dumping is covered by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), Catubig said Ocbo and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) have laid down guidelines in addressing construction wastes.
"Part na sa requirement sa Dole ang health program sa pag-construct. Part na sa ila on how to care of your waste disposal (Dole has included in its requirement in ensuring health programs during construction. It includes how to take care of waste disposals)," she said, adding the public would be affected on any improper waste disposal.
Catubig also said Ocbo has the authority to put on hold constructions violating the imposed guidelines, both local and national laws.
She said she will order her monitoring team to strictly monitor and tighten their inspection to avoid future problems.
The Ocbo head, however, noted that the city's current drainage system is not efficient enough to capture the water volume brought by the rains.
"Karon, dapat man gud ang design sa drainage depende sa volume sa rain. Ang data sa Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) nagsulti nga ang volume sa rain five years before kay times three na ron (The current drainage design should depend on the volume amount of rain. Pagasa's data noted a times three increase of volume of rain compared to five years ago)," Catubig said.