An official of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7 said the integrated drainage master plan for the whole Metro Cebu envisioned by the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 will cost P10 million to P15 million.
Neda 7 director Buenaventura Go-Soco said the amount covers the study that will be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the waterways in 13 cities and municipalities in Metro Cebu.
Go-Soco said the funds have yet to be allocated for the project but he hopes that the DPWH central office in Manila will set aside funding for it.
The RDC 7 last June decided to tap the services of DPWH central office, particularly its Project Management Office-Flood Control Center, to prepare the drainage master plan.
The council learned that the DPWH 7 does not have the capabilities to undertake the project.
The DPWH said it wants local government units (LGU) in Metro Cebu to come up with counterpart funds for the project, but it did not say how much.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who also heads the RDC 7, said the DPWH should set aside funds for the drainage master plan.
â€They should have included the funding for that in the P400 million,†he said, referring National Government funds that Rep. Tomas Osmena (Cebu City, south district) diverted to the first district of Cebu Province.
The P400 million, which was part of DPWH’s budget, was originally set aside for infrastructure projects identified by Osmena, such as the proposed flyover between Gorordo Ave. and Dona Modesta Gaisano St. in Cebu City, which was blocked by Rama.
Osmena said the funds cannot be realigned and instead diverted the same amount to the first district of Cebu Province.
Rama also proposed that DPWH collate the master plans of Metro Cebu LGUs and use these as bases for the integrated drainage master plan to avoid huge costs. - by pna.gov.ph
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