‘Unclogging won’t stop Lawaan flooding’ –Ocampo

ROXAS CITY—Councilor Midelo Ocampo said that unclogging alone would not help eliminate or mitigate flooding in Bgy. Lawaan here.

Ocampo said that parts of the village drainage cannot reach the nearby creek—and these are those covered by private properties.

“A large volume of water could be accommodated if drainage were unclogged,” Ocampo said in Capiznon.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is leading this, Ocampo said.

As for barangay Tiza, the problem is the water draining from the upland areas of barangays Tiza, Milibili and Homesite.

Ocampo also cited the lack of drainage, related amenities and concreted roads in urban poor subdivisions—which allows developers to sell their property cheap.

To date, the city councilor has asked barangay officials to make a resolution asking the national government to help finance the drainage projects.

According to Ocampo, DPWH Capiz 1st District Engineering Office Maintenance and Construction Division chief Julius Abela pledged to help propose the said projects.

Ocampo said that there are opportunities to reallocate Php10 million from a project covering New Road, Atila Burgos, and Tiza that wasn’t started yet.

Funds can also be sourced from the gender and development and disaster risk reduction and management programs of the city’ 2021 budget.

Ocampo said that aside from the city government and national government, another plan is to seek financial assistance from the provincial government.

Ocampo said that not less than Php20-million would be needed for these projects.

He has also encouraged the public to practice proper waste disposal. (Ralph John Mijares and Edalyn Acta)