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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Prepare for the inconvenience.
On Dec. 8, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start working on a P100-million drainage project that promises to end the flooding on the streets of Fuentes, Mabini, Quezon and Valeria, among other areas in the city.
“We ask the people to please bear with the inconvenience that the drainage construction will bring,” said Ormel Santos, assistant chief of DPWH Region 6’s construction division.
Work on the drainage project covers four major streets – General Luna, Jalandoni, Rizal, and JM Basa.
This will complement the one that the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (CDEO) is doing on Delgado Street, said Santos.
“We will provide safety devices,” he stressed.
DPWH was supposed to start the project in October yet but “the mayor would not allow us.”
Last month, the Iloilo City District Engineering Office was in the thick of its Delgado Street drainage project.
“Kun magdungan sa project sang City District, maginamo,” said Santos yesterday during a conference with Cong. Jerry Treñas.
The Delgado Street drainage project is nearing completion.
The outfall of the new drainage system is the Iloilo River via Muelle Loney Street and back of the Iloilo Terminal Market.
Santos said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog suggested that they start working on the busy Jalandoni Street.
“Kay nagapadulong ang Dinagyang Festival. Ulihi na lang ang minor streets para indi ma-disturb ang pag-construct during Dinagyang,” said Santos.
Last week, Mabilog said he won’t allow new road and drainage projects of DPWH unless its ongoing ones are completed, citing the inconvenience they bring.
Work on the new drainage system is expected to be completed on Dec. 9, 2017.
Also during yesterday’s conference, City District Engineer Rodney Gustilo tried to make sense of Friday last week’s flashfloods brought by tropical storm “Marce.” He defended his office from criticisms that their drainage projects were not working and that their unfinished road projects contributed to the inundation.
The jeepney drivers halted their trips on Friday. The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association blamed the floods. Hundreds of passengers got stranded.
“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 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.
Treñas, meanwhile, vowed to help the city government solve the problem on flooding.
“We will consolidate the necessary projects (for drainage system) so I can also endorse the plans either to the region(al DPWH office) or to Secretary Mark Villar of DPWH. Dako ang kinahanglan basta drainage,” said Treñas.
Meanwhile, Gustilo also reiterated his call that business establishments install grease traps.
A grease trap (also known as grease interceptor, grease recovery device and grease converter) is a plumbing device designed to intercept most greases and solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system.
Gustilo said high-viscosity fats and cooking greases such as lard solidify when cooled, and can combine with other disposed solids to form blockages in the drainage system.
“The drainage system is supposed to cater to run-off water only and not wastes from the kitchens of these commercial establishments,” he stressed.
The rampant throwing of garbage into sewers also contributes to the frequent flooding, said Gustilo.
“We have coordinated with the barangay captains on this. They have to constantly remind their residents not to thrown anything into the drainage system. Garbage blocks the flow of water,” said Gustilo./PN
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