Councilor Jessica “Cookie” Bonguyan is urging all 182 barangays in Davao City to regularly clear and maintain canals, drainage systems, and waterways within their jurisdictions as part of intensified efforts to prevent flooding and protect public health.
In her privilege speech, Bonguyan, chairperson of the City Council’s Committee on Public Works and Highways, is proposing a resolution calling on barangay councils to conduct scheduled neighborhood clean-up drives to keep secondary canals, lateral drainage systems, and waterways free from garbage, debris, silt, and other obstructions.
The initiative comes amid recurring localized flooding during heavy rains, which can be worsened by clogged drainage systems and improper waste disposal.
Under the proposed resolution, barangays are encouraged to mobilize residents, purok leaders, and volunteer groups in maintaining community drainage systems and promoting proper waste segregation and disposal.
The resolution also emphasizes that while the City Government, through the Ancillary Services Unit (ASU), City Engineer’s Office (CEO), and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), conducts desilting and major clearing operations on primary waterways, barangays must take responsibility for smaller neighborhood drainage systems.
“Barangays must take charge of smaller neighborhood drainage systems and secondary canals such as inlets alongside barangay roads to sustain the clearing efforts initiated by city-level departments,” the resolution stated.
Bonguyan also called for stronger coordination between barangays and city offices when drainage problems require equipment or intervention beyond the capacity of local communities.
Barangays are encouraged to coordinate with the ASU, CEO, or CENRO for heavy equipment and assistance in addressing severe structural blockages, while major drainage concerns may be reported through official city channels, including Davao City Reports.
The resolution cites the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which provide local governments and barangays with responsibilities related to public health, sanitation, infrastructure maintenance, and solid waste management.
Bonguyan stressed that keeping waterways clear should not be left solely to city departments but must become a sustained community effort involving barangay officials and residents.
“Maintaining unobstructed and clean drainage canals is a shared responsibility vital to environmental sanitation, disaster preparedness, and community safety,” Bonguyan said.
