Private lot owners in Barangay San Manuel, where the planned drainage system to be constructed by the city government will pass through, have given their consent for the construction to proceed.
Councilor Luis Marcaida III said he, along with representatives from the City Engineering Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, convinced the involved property owners to allow the drainage system to pass through their properties during a meeting conducted by the Committee on Infrastructure last Wednesday.
Marcaida said they invited the majority of residents of San Manuel in their list who attended the meeting, were enlightened regarding the issue, and have agreed to allow the construction on their lots.
“During the meeting when we were discussing the problem, ay nagbigay na rin ng consent while yung iba naman, nagsabi na mag-uusap muna sila ng pamilya,” he told reporters on Monday.
“Maganda naman yung naging talakayan dahil malinaw naman yung presentation na ginawa ng city engineering. Ni-request ko rin yung CSWDO and CDRRMO na i-discuss at ipaliwanag yung pangyayari,” he added, referring to the recent flooding that hit several barangays in the city due to heavy rains brought by the intertropical convergence zone and shearline.
Marcaida, who chairs the infrastructure committee of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, also stated that they will continue to invite residents to a dialogue and other committee meetings to further discuss the situation.
He added that other options for them to convince residents include through dialogue, purchase of the properties, and exercise the power of eminent domain of the state. He stated that they consider the power of eminent domain as a last option.
“Medyo mahirap yun e. Masakit kasi kukunin mo yung property nang sapilitan. Mas maganda yung nag-uusap nang maayos. Actually, meron pang isang binanggit si attorney na isa pang remedy na hindi niya muna ipinaliwanag,” he explained.
“Kaya nga yung approach natin during the committee meeting is not fault-finding but a solution-finding meeting,” he added.
Moreover, he said they will have a coordination meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways before the next committee hearing.
Marcaida has also filed an ordinance calling for the regular declogging of drainage and waterways every month of June.
He said the proposed ordinance may somewhat add a solution to the flooding problems of the city.
“Alam naman natin na pag June ay tag-ulan. May mga nag-suggest na gawing May so doon na lang sa committee pag-uusapan. Kasi alam naman natin na isa sa source din ng baha ay yung pagbara ng drainage,” he said.
“So siguro kung gagawin natin sa buong Puerto, baka pagdating ng tag-ulan ng June or July ay dumaloy ng maganda yung tubig dahil nalinis yung drainage. So baka maka-solusyon na ma-ease yung pagbaha,” he added.
