By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) blamed flooding in Barangay Pahanocoy last week on closed drainage systems.
CDRRMO cluster head Joemarie Vargas said some of the drainage systems were closed due to recently-completed road improvement and widening projects.
Vargas said he will meet with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to help in re-opening the drainage systems.
Vargas also said adding more drainage systems will not answer the problem and claimed the city needs more anti-flood infrastructure projects, such as floodways, in order to address the problem.
He is also hoping the city’s P16 million drainage master plan will soon be completed./WDJ