City officials led by Mayor Dan Neri Lim is set to persuade Sec. Lito Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to open the outfall of the new city drainage along San Jose street to solve the flooding along CPG north avenue during downpour, said city councilor Atty. Danilo A. Bantugan.
He said Sec. Atienza, who is personal friend of the mayor, is coming to town sometime this week for an important engagement.
The tug-of-war between government agencies concerned over the newly installed city drainage system with illegal taps of private establishments following the completion of the Bohol circumferential road improvement of national highway here is far from over.
DENR and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are at odds resulting to buck-passing on what to do with the illegal taps by both residential and commercial establishments for months now.
Residents along CPG avenue north are suffering from overflow during heavy rains, flooding their homes and business establishments.
Prior to the commencement of the project, Mayor Lim took the cudgels in initiating the plan to construct drainage system aside from concreting the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia avenue.
After the completion of the project, DENR stood firm on its decision not to open the outfall of the drainage system until such time that some 40 illegal taps are cut off from the system.
This prompted DPWH first district Engr. Celestino Adlaon to refuse the turnover of the highway project from project contractor Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation. The project has not been turned over to DPWH, he said.
But Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera put the blame on DPWH for being "remiss" of its supervisory job while the highway and drainage construction was still in progress months back. His comments came after the city council passed a Resolution urging DPWH national office not to accept the project unless the illegal drainage connections are removed.
Appearing to be washing his hands on the mess, Adlaon retorted that his office has no direct supervision over the project because it was the DPWH national office that called the shots in the actual road construction, including the drainage system.
The DENR also strongly recommended the following measures: not to allow outfalls if no water treatment facilities and the opening of San Jose street outfall unless illegal connections are disconnected. - Ric V Obedencio
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