City anti-flood czar Engr. Marni Castro oversees declogging operations. Photos courtesy of CSF-CIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Even amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, the city government has not let up in its flood mitigation efforts in time for the rainy season coming at hand.
On Monday, the city engineer’s office in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways 1st District Engineering Office and the city’s anti-flood czar Engr. Marni Castro declogged drainage canals along a stretch of MacArthur Highway in Barangay Sindalan.
“Ang pangunahing adhikain natin dito ay mabuksan at matingnan ang kalagayan ng mga kanal sa kahabaan ng MacArthur Highway ngunit dahil sa mga nakalipas na taon, napansin nating kadalasang dito sa Sindalan at Maimpis nangyayari ang flashfloods kaya ang mga ito ang target na prayoridad natin ngayon,” said city engineer Anele David.
She said her office will report to the environment office the volume of wastes, mostly plastic, scooped out of the drainage canals in order for the city to institute needed measures towards waste management.
“Ang susunod na step niyan ay ang koordinasyon natin kasama ang city environment and natural resources office ukol sa mas mahigpit na enforcement sa ating ecological solid waste management practices at ang panawagan natin sa publiko na suportahan ang programang ito dahil ito ang nagiging sanhi ng pagbaha,” David explained.
For her part, city environment and natural resources officer Maria Regina Rodriguez called on barangay officials to perform their mandates of implementing the solid waste management practices to keep their areas of jurisdiction clean.
“Ang siyudad po ay nagbibigay ng paalala sa mga namamahala sa bawat barangay na panatilihin nilang malinis ang kanilang nasasakupan, drainage man yan o daan, dahil ito po ang kanilang mandato. Kung regular at maayos po ang pangongolekta ng basura sa mga kabahayan, hindi na sila magtatapon ng basura sa mga highway,” noted Rodriguez.
This, as she also urged the business sector to comply with the CENRO’s mandates, including the provision of their respective waste holding areas.
“Ang mga malalaking establisimyento, may private haulers ang mga iyan dahil ito ay isang requirement mula sa atin na dapat magkaroon sila ng waste holding area habang ang mga basura naman ng malilit na tindahan ay kinokolekta ng ating city trucks, sa ilalim ng city general services office,” she added.
David said the city engineering office has laid out similar activities in the coming days, alongside other flood control programs such as desilting of major waterways, and clearing, widening, and de-clogging of creeks and public compounds. — With CSF-CIO
