Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Councilor Roberto Rojas Monday thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her intervention in the release of P10 million intended for the remaining 500 meters of the drainage floodway project in Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago during the League of Cities of the Philippines meeting in Malacañang.

Leonardia and Rojas, chairman of the Flood Control Coordinating Action Team, earlier met with Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. at the DPWH Head Office, to follow-up the release of the additional P10-million budget.

Ebdane approved the request of Leonardia and Rojas because  there are funds available, and DPWH will try to finish the project as requested. 

“I hope the continued coordination with DPWH will bear fruit and I thank President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Secretary Ebdane for responding to our request,” Leonardia said yesterday.

The drainage floodway project is 800 meters long but the funds of P6 million released to DPWH is good only for 300 meters.  The P10 million additional request is for the remaining 500 meters to complete the project, the mayor added.

Meanwhile, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Joemarie Vargas said they are gathering data to update the drainage master plan of Bacolod City for the improvement of the city’s drainage system and to address flooding problems.

During the heavy rains Monday night, flooding was reported along Hilado Street at the Shopping Center, Libertad Market, and Lacson-Lizares streets.

However, the water subsided after the rains, Vargas said.

The city has three teams that monitor flood-prone areas every time there are heavy rains, he said. The teams are headed by Councilor Roberto Rojas, Aaron Bais, head of the Public Safety and Emergency Management Section, and himself, Vargas said.*CGS

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