POOR DRAINAGE
CEO given 5 days to come up drainage system status report

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas gave the City Engineer's Office (CEO) five days to come up with an assessment report and status of all the drainage system in the city. Treñas' order was in relation to the recent flooding in the city that affected 88 barangays.

The mayor also wants City Engineer Marito Amatorio to come up with a comprehensive drainage plan for the city. This is to pave way for the city to have a yearly round of construction or rehabilitation of the drainage system. He preferred the construction of a drainage system than to buy some P12 million worth of declogging machine.

Treñas was surprised when some of the barangays recently hit by flashflood are not in the city's list of flood prone areas. City Proper district has the most number of affected barangays with 18. It is much bigger compared to the flood prone district of Jaro. In last Tuesday's flood, there are only 14 barangays affected in Jaro.

Treñas attributed the flooding in different factors such as the clogged drainage system and massive development in the city. He suspects that the asphalt overlay along the area of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional office and Iloilo City National High School caused the flooding.

He also surmised that something went wrong in the drainage system along Jalandoni Street, fronting University of San Agustin, Ledesma Street and Tanza area. Drainage systems have already been constructed along these areas. While, they could not locate the drainage system in Aurora Subdivision. The rain waters both gushed not only in squatters' area but also in subdivisions.

Treñas added that the relocation site in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo is already near the river. The same reason why 227 families have to be evacuated from the area. There is no drainage system in the relocation site which made the rain water stayed in the place.

The recent flood caused the different schools and universities in the city to suspend their classes. Transportation system was also affected. Some drivers stopped from plying their routes for fear that it will damage their vehicles. The Perimeter Boundary Ordinance has temporarily lifted to give way to other vehicles to enter the city and cater the needs of the riding public.