There goes the rain... Mayor disses DPWH via social media October 14, 2014 BY FREDA MAE SORSANO ILOILO City – Is the rainy season also the season for finger-pointing? Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog took to Facebook on Oct. 12 to “call the attention” of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Edilberto Tayao and City District Engineer Rodney Gustilo. He blamed DPWH’s road projects for Friday last week’s flashfloods. In a status he posted at 9:03 a.m., Mabilog addressed DPWH first. “Paging DPWH – I don’t think you are blind nor (sic) naive that you don’t see the condition of the road (sic),” posted the mayor. According to Mabilog, the department does not warrant a letter since they, too, use the highway. “I will write it in Tagalog so the Tagalog regional director would understand,” sassed Mabilog. “Tingnan mo ang bagong gawa mo na Ninoy Aquino Diversion Road sa area ng overpass, ang pinagyayabang ay sira-sira at lubak-lubak na ang kalye (Look at the newly-constructed Ninoy Aquino Diversion Road in the overpass area. What you brag about is a damaged and uneven street).” “Huwag muna kayong magyabang dahil wala naman kayong talagang ipagyayabang!!! Sana huwag kayong manhid (Don’t brag yet because you have nothing to brag!!! Please do not be callous),” posted the city’s chief executive. In a longer rant addressed to Gustilo at 9:49 a.m., Mabilog enumerated the district engineer’s projects in the city’s five districts. “Thank you for all your projects, but all these areas are flooded during rainy days)…baliki man ni bi projects mo kag abi panumdoma gid bi kung ano ang maayo (Do look back on these projects and reflect on what’s best),” the post continued. The mayor added: “Kon under ka lang sa city government kag sa city mayor…pangayuon ko gid ang…kabay nga makonsensiya ka man (If only you are under the city government and the city mayor…I will ask for… I pray that you’d listen to your conscience)…” “Please take note that I am not bashing you. I am not using harsh or insulting words. I am just calling your attention. Until the next flood,” Mabilog concluded. While some praised the mayor, others wondered if Facebook was the proper venue for Mabilog to call people out. But according to Mabilog’s spokesman, Rey Delfin, it was okay. “It was a valid observation, and indi man guro malain to task people to do the job right. Everyone is entitled to that,” said Delfin. Delfin claimed the mayor’s post was not meant to blame or shame DPWH. “It’s not nga ginapakahuy-an ka or something like that. It was a reminder,” said Delfin. Delfin added, “If the people on the radio can freely express what they opine, then the mayor is, too.” CAUSE OF FLOODING While both the finished and ongoing road projects may have indeed been a factor behind the flooding, Delfin said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) pointed to the massive volume of rainfall as the main cause. According to DOST, said Delfin, the intertropical convergence zone made worse by typhoon “Ompong” brought the rainfall volume to 151 millimeters in just 24 hours. This volume was more than the average for 15 days, said Delfin. The monthly average rainfall volume is only 264.1 millimeters, said Delfin, citing DOST data. The flood displaced 2,389 families or 11,945 individuals.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:04:51 +0000
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