Still no master plan

Ben Contreras

BACK during the early days of Dongkoy Emano’s first term as mayor, I wrote in my Southern Mail column that “… I hope Mayor Dongkoy Emano will consider drafting a CDO drainage master plan and make its implementation his legacy to the people of this city.”

For more than 10 years in office, he chose to put his political savvy above being a public servant. He made a few super rich and the rest begging for genuine public service. His political clout could have made him the best mayor but he opted for political limelight than achieve memorable accomplishments. He never did anything remarkable until “Sendong” did him in.

Former mayor Tinnex Jaraula, when he was city councilor in the late ’90s, came up with the Cagayan de Oro River Development Authority (Corda) to address environmental concerns and flood mitigation. It was an idea taken from Malaysia’s river system. Part of the undertakings under Corda was the dredging of our river, covering 20 hectares at the “bukana.”

When he was mayor, he had this dike project called the “Golden Mile.” The initial accomplishment was washed away by Sendong but is now being pursued with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Jaraula’s major flood prevention projects include drainages from Corrales-Hayes streets, Corrales-Tirso Neri streets and Corrales-Yacapin streets down to the river. This reminds me of our (DPWH, Ralph Abragan and LKKS management) meeting regarding flooding in the highway fronting LKKS where it was suggested that drainages should all exit down the river.

Another good idea of Jaraula was to build mini-dams to hold rain water by 30 minutes to one hour and let the rain water flow down to the ravines which the city has plenty.

Former congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez had a few projects to his credit in solving our flood problems. He could have been a good mayor, too. Perhaps, it’s not his destiny to be. He could have also been less controversial than the victor who continues to be hounded by cases.

Oscar Moreno as mayor has other priorities than solving our flood problem. His dream is to make CDO a prime city, increasing real property tax that has become unaffordable to landed people.

When Engr. Pacuribot admitted that the city has no drainage masterplan, despite the feasibility study of an expert, the inaction of the city government on this regard seems to tell us that flooding in the city has no solution. Perhaps, he is just being pragmatic about it.

During Moreno’s first term, there was this forum held in 5N Hotel hosted by the Climate Change Commission (CCC). CCC Commissioner Mary Ann Lucille Sering presented studies by experts, including one by Dr. Rauol Geologue, former DENR director in Region 10. The studies depicted what might happen in our city during hours of heavy rain which made Moreno make an urgent appeal to her not to include it in her presentation because it might drive investors away.

Indeed, investors have been coming in relentlessly, and that made me ask this question repeatedly: Don’t they know the real score or the real situation?

Today, flood is everywhere around the world. The worst in CDO could have been typhoon “Pablo.” The direction veered toward Davao Oriental and spared our city. But the worst is yet to come unless we do something collectively and not just rely on the city government.

No drainage masterplan? Then who will do it?