FLOODING in downtown Cebu City might just be minimized soon.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 earmarked some P50 million for the dredging of Estero Parian, a 1.6-kilometer waterway that stretches from Colon St. to Pier 2 area in Barangay Tinago.
Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera announced during the 888 News Forum yesterday that the dredging of the creek will help address flooding in the downtown areas, which often leaves motorists and pedestrians stranded due to the knee-deep water.
In the same forum, Team Rama’s north district congressional candidate, former mayor Alvin Garcia, said he will work on legislation creating the Metro Cebu Development Authority so there will be coordination among local government units (LGUs) to address traffic, garbage and flooding problems.
Garcia said that all LGUs in Metro Cebu should work together to address common problems, particularly traffic.
Garcia of Team Rama said there should only be one traffic body for Metro Cebu so that traffic management would be seamless and there would be uniform traffic rules across all LGUs.
If he is elected congressman, the former mayor said he will also work on legislation that would improve the city’s tourism and business process outsourcing industries.
Garganera, also head of the Cebu City Government’s Reduction Danger Zones (REDZ), said that DPWH 7 officials informed the City that the dredging may start before the year ends or early next year.
“There is P50 million from DPWH for the dredging of Estero Parian and definitely, it will help address the flooding problem in the downtown barangays. Right now, the garbage and silt are just too thick, that’s why the waterway overflows during heavy rain,” he said during the forum held at the Marco Polo Hotel.
All the runoff water from the upland areas, Osmena Blvd., Junquera St. and Jakosalem St. flows to Estero Parian.
Aside from dredging works, Garganera said the REDZ is also gradually removing all the structures that obstruct the flow of water in the creek.
Garganera, who is running for north district councilor under Team Rama, said he will focus on clearing the seven major waterways in the city to address the flooding.