AN URBAN poor group criticized the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the City Government for failing to solve the flooding in the city.
"They are all talk, all promises, only plans, no work and no outcomes and solutions," Francisco Pagayaman, spokesperson of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap–Northern Mindanao Region (Kadamay-NMR) said.
Pagayaman said the poor performance of the DPWH is also a problem in a national scale, citing that it always fail to hit the deadlines or the target completion of the project.
And even if the project is done, it is of poor quality.
"It is a problem on corruption, there is delay in all of the DPWH projects nationwide because allegedly some engineers are asking a percentage from their contractors," he said.
"We, the people are tired that we are always blamed for the flood, we are the principal suspects but the question, are not these government agencies should also be blamed? They are doing projects but it does not solve the problem," he said.
The City Government, he said, should also remember that the previous administration fell because of the same flood problem. But, five years into the Moreno administration, flooding persists, Pagayaman adds.
"The officials could be administratively and criminally liable," he added.
In a press conference yesterday, July 12, Engineer Sabeniano Caliao Jr., chief of the Planning and Design Division of DPWH-Northern Mindanao said all of the drainage projects are expected to be completed this year.
Caliao said one of the major challenges in the completion of their projects is the road right of way problem.
"But even if there are blockages ahead, we keep on pursuing," he said.
"Ang atong problema sa flooding dugay na nga panahon (Our problem with flooding existed years ago), but we have to acknowledge the mitigating issues in ongoing sa DPWH. Until we will be able to complete those then maybe somehow, ayha pa ta muingon nga na solve nana (then we can say that it is solved)," he said.
Caliao said they are working on the drainage project in Agora, including the always flooded state university ong CM Recto Avenue. The elevation of USTP is lower in sea level. So gamay nga ulan flood jud na (So even if it rains a little, it will flood), that is reality. Kung mahuman nato atong drainage system then ma-confine nato nang tubig ayha dayun nato e-pump out. (Once we finish the drainage syste, then we can confine the water and pump it out.) Karun kamolo pa mi, just a little patience we will come to that," he said.
This week, Cagayan de Oro was flooded twice due to heavy rains brought about by thunderstorm and the southwest moonsoon, locally known as Habagat.