The City Engineer’s Office has found a culprit to the flooding problems of the city.
Who’s to blame? They are the illegal settlers whose houses sit atop drainage systems.
Atty. Joey Felizarta, head of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), said houses and house extensions constructed on top of drainages contributed to the flooding that is why his office is asking Dabawenyos to voluntarily demolish their houses as they are obstructing the drainage.
According to Felizarta, these structures are built on public property.
He said that some of these drainage systems are located under private properties whose owners should also give way to existing creeks.
Felizarta also pointed to more water flowing from newly-constructed buildings which contribute to the flooding.
“Because of development, daghan na kayo ta’g mga building karon during the time mag-ulan ang mga building mag-produce pud og mga tubig. Ang iba naka-clog na sa atong mga kanal, naay mga driveways na kailangan na nato i-check. That’s why kung magkuha sila og building permit, ginapakuha gyud nato sila og drainage clearance sa City Engineer’s Office,” he said.
Felizarta said based on CEO’s recent survey and assessment, there are 13 identified flooded areas in the city: Km 5 Tulip Drive in Brgy Matina Crossing, Brgy Hall in Matina Aplaya, Susana Homes in Brgy. Baliok, Bacanaya Village in Brgy Catalunan Pequeño, Countryside Village in Brgy La Vista Monte, Gallera de Oro in Brgy Bago Aplaya, Goldland Subdivision in Brgy Bago Gallera, Spring Valley Subdivision in Buhangin, Datu Loho in Maa, Circumferential road in Marfori, in JP Laurel, and Quirino.
He also said the CEO team will be checking the outfalls (drainage) whether it’s already silted, including the newly constructed drainage such as in Matina Crossing.
He added that the city government of Davao funded P35 million for the rehabilitation of the drainage along the Civil Service Commission (CSC) road and P40 million for the rehabilitation of the Kabacan creek in Ecoland.
CEO has earlier reported that uncollected and improperly dumped garbage that clogged the drainage system and canals, siltation and structures built above waterways have contributed to severe flooding in the city on April 10, 2021.
Meanwhile, the city government of Davao and the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 11) are also working on projects to address flooding issues and pumping stations to help ease the flooding.
DPWH 11 has seven pumping stations in Davao City located in Jerome creek, Mamay creek, Agdao creek, Marginal St. to Magsaysay outfall, Ponce St., Roxas ext. outfall, Mabini ext. outfall. There are also two (2) existing pumping stations in Laverna, wherein they recently proposed to add another one. Regular inspection and cleaning of pumping stations are done by the Ancillary Service Unit (ASU) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
