THE CITY Engineer’s Office (CEO) aims to rehabilitate several drainages, creeks and other waterways to clear them of siltation and other debris.
Engr. Leonard Palban, CEO-Urban Drainage Maintenance Division head, said the frequently flooded streets of Old San Isidro, New San Isidro, NHA Buhangin (main road), Sandawa, Damosa, Torres corner Jacinto, Magsaysay Ave., Pelayo corner Bonifacio (Brgy. 3-A), Purok Sarphil (Brgy. Aquino) as well as several streets in Brgy. San Antonio were found to have silted drainages that would cause heavy flooding.
The drainages in these areas have become so shallow due to siltation that even minimal rainfall is enough to cause water to overflow from the system to the streets.
The CEO is set to rehabilitate the drainages in these areas while continuously conducting clean-up activities in the waterway system.
The office will also start the P40-Million project to construct additional inlets beneath the city center to augment the already existing urban waterway infrastructure. Drain inlets collect water from the streets to be conveyed to the main waterway system.
“Ang purpose ani kay for additional inlets sa tong mga areas na lagyo ang inlets (The purpose of this is to add more inlets to the areas where the inlets are far in between),” Palban said.
Other areas, like Laverna Hills, Diversion Road Underpass and Sandawa, frequently flooded due to the lower elevation of their drainages will also have additional inlets to let water pass more easily into the main drainage system.
Palban said drain projects in these elevated areas would be coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways, which would help source out water pumps.
The CEO is slated to open the pre-bidding process for the materials to be used in the drainage project on June 23.
Palban said the project will be completed within one year, maximum.
Meanwhile, to palliatively address the flooding in city streets, the CEO, in partnership with the Ancillary Services Unit, has coordinated with the barangay functionaries of the aforementioned areas to keep the drainages of the city clean and free from clogging so as not to exacerbate the existing problem.
