By MARILOU M. AGUIRRE-TUBURAN | Davao Today
DAVAO CITY — Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte blamed global warming and the resistance of landowners against City Hall’s drainage projects for the unprecedented flooding that hit the city early in June.
Duterte said the natural calamities in the world these days are the result of heavy pollution primarily contributed by first world countries; something that people in the Third World can do very little about.
But he also said only 13, of the 18 drainage projects scheduled in the city, have been completed because of resistance from the landowners. At the onset of rainy season, areas observed to have poor drainage system suffered heavy floods; including those in Sasa, Mamay, Lanang, J.P. Laurel (Davao Light and Power Company area), N. Torres exit, Barrio Obrero, Lizada, Roxas to Magsaysay, Sta. Ana Ave, Quirino, Central Bank area, Marfori, Maa, Matina, Mac Arthur Highway, GSIS, NHA, Sto Nio, Kawayan and Dumoy.
In his weekly television program, Duterte said City Hall needs billions of money to put up canals like in Roxas Boulevard and Dacudao; and to create another division in the City Engineer’s Office where 300 to 500 workers will be employed to serve as 24-hour quick-response teams in areas with drainage problems. Duterte plans to purchase trucks to transport garbage clogged in canals during rainy days.
He also said City Hall will expropriate lands of local residents where drainage canals will be installed. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)
