BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the city engineering office to work double time in repairing the drainages around the city and make them serviceable in time for the rainy and typhoon seasons so as not to contribute in the flooding of city streets that inconvenience motorists and pedestrians.
The local chief executive said that now that rains happen every afternoon, it will be easier for the personnel of the city engineering office to monitor the defective drainages and institute the appropriate repairs so that water will immediately flow into the system and prevent the accumulation of water.
“We have to make sure that our drainage systems are fully operational so that perennial flooding in the low-lying areas could be prevented and people could freely move around the city even during times of strong rains,” Domogan said.
He said that while it is true that the public works department was able to improve the condition of most drainage systems in the city’s central business district, the city government is mandated to maintain such systems for the convenience of the public, especially during heavy downpour so that flooding in major roads could be prevented. This mandate was affirmed by previous rulings of the Supreme Court relative to the said matter.
According to the mayor, the local government is liable for whatever accidents that might happen to people as a result of poorly maintained drainages that is why it is best for the concerned offices to do their work to prevent whatever untoward incidents that might compromise the safety of the public.
He claimed that while the rains are not yet that strong and that the volume of water flowing into the drainage systems are not that huge, it is best for the personnel of the city engineering office to do regular maintenance works in the said city drainage systems to make sure that they are fully operational in time for the onslaught of strong rains, especially during the months of July to September when typhoons are expected to visit the city.
More importantly, Domogan said that it is best for the concerned offices to cover the open drainage systems in order to prevent untoward incidents that will compromise the safety of life and limb considering that open drainage systems are usually the cause of untoward incidents that compromise public safety.
He claimed that the covering of the drainage systems must be done properly so that it will not be contribute to traffic congestions in the city’s crowded areas during heavy downpours affecting safety and mobility of the public.
By Dexter A. See
