The City Government of Davao and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency are set to conduct a new study that will pave the way for a drainage master plan of the city.
According to City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Ivan Cortez, the study would include a look at the movement and behavior of the city’s riverways and waterways, particularly the water flow from the mountains downhill.
Cortez said he is optimistic the project will push through as JICA responded positively when the city proposed it in a meeting in last year.
“The proposal was taken very positively by JICA that it will be undertaken here,” he said, adding that the international agency will just have to finish some of their projects before they proceed with another project.
JICA consultants will begin the work within the year once the proposal is approved.
Cortez explained that the Davao City needs this kind of project since it is growing fast with the entry of new investors and migrants.
He added that JICA had chosen the city because it is easy to implement a project here.
“We have low-lying areas, and most of these are found in the downtown [Poblacion] area; if we want to protect some of the investments already on the ground, we need to have a modern approach to our drainage projects,” Cortez said.
It can be recalled that city engineer Joseph Felizarta met with JICA representatives and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last year to discuss the upgrading of the drainage masterplan.
Felizarta said the masterplan needs updating to include the rivers and canals in the suburbs to come up with a better plan for anti-flooding infrastructure projects and that the upgrade would be conducted within the year.
Cortez noted that the blueprint might include actions on the informal settlers along the riverbanks, which are considered to be a danger zone.
