DPWH drainage projects functioning – engineer

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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Despite Friday last week’s flashfloods, the Iloilo City District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) insisted its drainage projects were working.

“If these drainage projects are not functioning, the floodwaters would have lingered for some four hours. This would prove nga palpak atong gin obra,” said City District Engineer Rodney Gustilo.

But the floodwaters subsided in less than 30 minutes, he stressed.

“Ina nagapakita nga functional siya,” said Gustilo.

The engineer said Friday’s flashflood from the torrential rains of tropical storm “Marce” was extraordinary in volume.

“Kadako gid ya sang outfall. Indi lang syudad sang Iloilo ang submerged sa tubig kundi ang entire island of Panay,” said Gustilo.

Among DPWH’s ongoing drainage projects are those in La Paz district from the Iloilo Science and Technology University to Huervana Street; on Rizal Street, also in La Paz; and on Delgado Street, City Proper.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said he will not allow new road and drainage projects of DPWH unless its ongoing ones are completed.

Unfinished infrastructure projects of the department, especially drainage, were being blamed for Friday’s flooding.

Under the Local Government Code, DPWH could not undertake projects without the approval of the local chief executive, said Mabilog.

The flashfloods stranded thousands of commuters. Drivers of passenger jeepneys and even taxis stopped working. The president of the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association blamed the flashfloods.

Gustilo said he will instruct his maintenance manager to add more inlets across the city. Inlets are holes through which rain or floodwater can seep through the drainage.

“Malaka ang inlets. Padugangan inlets ang aton na-complete na nga mga drainage projects,” said Gustilo.

Two weeks ago, Mabilog revealed that DPWH would be undertaking a big drainage project that could solve the flooding downtown and in other City Proper villages.

The outfall of this drainage system is the Iloilo Strait via the coastal village of Rizal Pala-pala.

The project starts next month, said Mabilog and he appealed for greater public patience.

“The drainage project may take a year to complete. It will come with some inconvenience but we will try to ease the hassle,” said Mabilog./PN
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