BAYUGAN CITY AND ITS MANMADE LAGOONS It is known that in Agusan del Sur has only two types of climate, wet and very wet. A statement which could be translated as rainy to extremely rainy weather all over the year. As I recall, it is in the year 2011 when I personally witness heavy rain and extreme flooding in Bayugan city. I am recalling the January 2011 flood where Wawa river over flow and spill-out to portion of AH26 (Maharlika Highway) which makes travel from Bayugan city to Sibagat impossible. Not to mention hundreds of passengers and tens of vehicles are stranded (that includes me). Since that year and every year after, between December and January, heavy rain and flood is a usual event. But could this flood or at least the flooding along residences of Poblacion and Taglatawan be prevented? (From here on-ward, this article will be focusing on floods along Poblacion and Taglatawan areas, not your hip high flood but the below the knee flood) It is very disappointing to recall that some flood free residences before became flood prone area now a days. But why did such thing happen? Well other than blaming it to GLOBAL WARMING and CLIMATE CHANGE, perhaps we can look at a different angle, something that we or THEY could have done better. This pertains to poor city development planning or at least mis-prioritization of project or at the very least is ineffective implementation of projects. Many of the flooding in the residential areas of Poblacion and Taglatawan started/become severe as the development/concreting of city road is implemented. I am not saying that concreting of city road is wrong or that THEY should have not concreted the roads after all. The point here is and the concreting of city road becomes wrong when you are blocking the natural waterway by elevation the roads and not constructing “drainage system” together with the road concreting. It is very usual scenario along concreted city roads in Poblacion and Taglatawan area that as a result of this project, the roads are elevated and the lands besides it becomes lower than the road level. This act is as if creating a manmade lagoon in areas of Poblacion and Taglatawan. Not to mention that some areas are already are. But only if THEY are not hard headed enough and followed the suggestion and recommendation of the COA annual report of year 2011 which points out that eight completed road projects (in taglatawan and poblacion) were not effectively implemented because the needed drainage canals were not included in the program of work. Further the report states the implications of the lack of drainage canals, exposing the road pavements to fast deterioration or damage caused by stagnant water crossing the road section/s or along the road pavement. If only THEY acted on this recommendation accordingly then the city should not be a city of manmade lagoons. Perhaps THEY may say that building drainage system is expensive which truly is. But let us talk about the year-end savings of the city or the 61++++ thousands of bonuses or the 100+++++ million worth city gym (which by the way is still under construction after how many days it is?) or the 50++++ million worth city gym or the 15+++++ million worth rotunda. After saying that, seems like money is not the problem but mis-prioritization and mis-implementation of projects. And if THEY enjoy making this city a city of manmade lagoon then keep-on building fancy expensive buildings and let your people enjoy splashing every now and then.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 00:37:59 +0000
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