BARANGAY officials in Talisay City sought the help of the Cebu Provincial Government in solving the city’s flooding problem.

During their regular session yesterday, officials of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Talisay lamented that flooding has long been a perennial problem hounding the city, but no measures have been done to solve the matter.

Raul Cabañero, Barangay Bulacao chief and ABC president, told reporters that his barangay has been suffering from losses amounting to P1 million whenever there are floods caused by heavy rains.

Aside from Bulacao, Barangays Lawaan 1 and 2, Cansojong, Poblacion, Linao and Tabunok are also complaining of flooding caused by heavy rains.

Cabañero said that the City had promised to use a comprehensive drainage master plan, which was mapped out during the stint of former Talisay City mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Master plan

The master plan, however, has yet to be implemented by the City until now, Cabañero said.

Cabañero and his fellow barangay officials raised their concern before Gov. Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Talisay Mayor Eduardo Gullas, who attended the ABC session yesterday.

Davide said he recognized the flooding problem not just in Talisay but in all Metro Cebu areas.

To assist Talisay and other flood-prone areas in the province, Davide said the Capitol plans to implement a 1995 study made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which presented flooding mitigation measures.

Davide, though, said that it is the primary responsibility of Talisay to find solutions to the flooding problem, with the Province assisting the City.

“We don’t want to preempt the City Government. Mayor (Eduardo) Gullas may have plans of his own,” said Davide.

Gullas said that solving the flooding in Talisay is not easy considering the topography of the city, which is like a catch basin.

“Wala’y maayong laki aning baha. Bisan pag si (US President Barack) Obama pay inyong mayor, dili gyud niya masulbad ang baha sa Talisay (No great man could ever solve this flooding problem. Even if the mayor of Talisay were Obama, this problem can never be resolved),” the mayor told barangay officials yesterday.

Gullas, however, said that if the City would have enough funds, he plans to finally implement the city’s comprehensive drainage master plan.

Gullas said the City Anti-Plastic Ordinance will also be properly implemented to prevent establishments from using plastic bags for the goods customers buy from their stores.