ILOILO CITY—A comprehensive drainage plan will address the flooding problem in this city, particularly in Mandurriao district, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here said.
Engineer Al Fruto, assistant regional director of the DPWH in Region 6, on Monday asked Mayor Joe Espinosa if it would be better to ask funds for the comprehensive drainage plan from the national government instead of asking for funding support for the continuation of Stage 2 of the city’s Flood Control Project.
The second phase of the flood-control project is under the comprehensive drainage plan. The other component of the plan covers creeks whose outfall will lead to Dungon Creek.
He said they are now finalizing the plan prepared by their consultants, integrating the suggestions of Iloilo City’s Task Force Drainage. Also being finalized is the indicative costing initially pegged at P3.2 billion.
Fruto said he would discuss with Espinosa the proposed comprehensive drainage plan.
Fruto said the second stage of the flood-control project also entails the improvement of the Jaro River, even though flooding is not much of a problem in the Jaro district.
Fruto said there was also an issue on resettlement of around 2,500 to 3,000 informal settlers living along the river.
In an earlier interview, Espinosa said he would ask President Duterte to finance the continuation of the flood-control project, if given the chance to talk to the President on Wednesday. The project was once estimated at P4 billion to P5 billion.