HEAVY pouring due to localized thunderstorms is plaguing the highlands of Davao region almost every afternoon or at the early part of the evening.
In effect, there were recorded brimming of rivers, swamping of the residential areas, and damaging agricultural ventures.
By and large, calamity victims are gratified of the government agencies that are there, first to rescue, second to offer a temporary shelter and third dole out relief goods. So that every time a calamity occurs, the inhabitants seem comfortable and contented to go on the same spiral concern.
Thinking outside the box, the government could have utilized its funding for the development and not much for the runs of rescue operations and giving of relief goods.
On top of these expenses, one’s economic activity is altered. Like for instance when the public utility vehicles are hesitant to serve at night where flooding is most likely experienced.
As a result, the city government deployed buses to augment the lack of PUJs going to and from Panacan, Lasang, Cabantian, Buhangin, Calinan and Toril. Well, thunderstorms are developed by nature and no amount of human effort can ever suppress it.
But, prevention of flooding to minimize the damage if not totally be avoided can be done by anybody through simple unclogging of the drainage system and not to build structures on the river banks and water passages. DPWH-Davao Region efforts are best and commendable.
They find solution to the supposedly accountability of every household at La Verna Hills Subdivision in Buhangin District. The La Verna Task Force which composed of 100 maintenance men of DPWH-Davao Region with the equipment operators is about to complete the 15-day task to de-clog, de-silt and extract any blockade in its drainage system.
As of Wednesday, taskforce head Engr. Ronan Badayos, reported that they have extracted 179 cubic meters (about 60 dump trucks) of silt and garbage, from the drainage system. The operation is being run both manually and with heavy machineries.
La Verna is among the high ground subdivisions in the city yet prone to flooding on heavy rains, only to find out that the drainage was not cleaned for the past two decades.
Clogged drainage is a perpetual problem of almost all highly urbanized cities. But with Vice Mayor Baste’s thrust, this will not persist long in Davao should the city council legislate measures and ensue stiff penalties to the careless populaces.
Let me quote the inaugural address of American President John F. Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”