The Ancillary Service Unit (ASU) will intensify the clean-up of canals to reduce the risk of flooding caused by the obstructions in waterways.
According to ASU chief Paul Bermejo, the recent flooding in Barangay Panacan was caused by a clogged creek in the area, which overflowed following heavy rains.
He also said that Panacan serves as a catchbasin of all rainwater coming from the elevated areas.
“The creek in Panacan is big enough to prevent flooding. However, since the area served as a catchbasin of communal, it will overflow during heavy rains,” he said.
He also added that his teams have been monitoring canals to ensure that waterways in the city are not clogged and free from blockage. “We will intensify our cleanup operation, not just in Panacan, but in all canals in the city to prevent street flooding during heavy rains,” he said.
Bermejo also said that teams are divided into two shifts, one in the morning and the other in the night, to roam and respond to the clogging problems. The team assigned at night has to ensure the cleanliness of the canals for the next day.
He also said that these canals have to be cleared of trash and silts to avoid clogging problems. Heavily silted canals will also be cleaned up, as they contribute to heavy flooding during heavy rains.
