by Lily Gut June 2, 2022 National Highway, Brgy Bucal, Calamba City (Photo from PIA4A) CALAMBA CITY - The Calamba City Public Order and Saf...
June 2, 2022
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| National Highway, Brgy Bucal, Calamba City (Photo from PIA4A) |
CALAMBA CITY - The Calamba City Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) wants to find a solution to the flooding in Calamba City, Laguna, and manage traffic congestion.
The POSO recently went to National Highway, Brgy Bucal, Calamba City, and discovered that heavy traffic and high floodwaters greeted motorists due to the continuous downpour.
Because of the accumulated water, the flood flooded some houses on the roadside and made it difficult for vehicles to move.
In an interview, Jeffrey Rodriguez, Chief of POSO, announced their office's response to the flooding and the local government's long-term plan or solution to the problem.
According to their records, the first time, the flooding lasted more than six hours, and the traffic was more than ten kilometers long.
He said the city intends to install a "cross drain," an underground drainage system that will suck in water from the lower part of the road and drain it into the canal.
“Sa assessment po natin ay dahil nagiging catch basin ito, so magkakaroon tayo ng cross drain. Iyon pong drainage dahil walang pinupuntahan ang tubig, itatawid po natin siya yung lugar na mababa, e magkakaroon ng drainage system papunta sa kabilang kalsada. Idi-divert po natin [ang tubig].”
Some of the other problems the department identified were clogged drainages covered with soil and inlets full of garbage. On May 18, the day after the flood, POSO and Calamba City Engineering Office personnel immediately dug up the covered parts of the drainage that could be drained by the accumulated surge and installed an additional temporary drainage inlet.
According to Rodriguez, POSO is just waiting for approval from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Laguna 2nd District Engineering Office to fully begin the project.
The DPWH had previously had a road widening project and drainage improvement in the area, so he said the agency is still studying the Calamba LGU project.
“In fairness sa DPWH, malawak yung build build build program ng ating mahal na pangulo na kung saan ay sinisikap ng ahensya na maiayos ang mga drainage, kalsada, road widening at iba pa” he praised.
Some of the residents of Brgy. Bucal lives on the side of the road in the Calamba LGU and DPWH project plan.
Melanie Madalipay, who has been a resident of Brgy. Bucal, it is said that the flood does not flow quickly due to blocked drainages. They and their livelihoods were affected, so he was happy to hear about the LGU project.
“Pabor po sa amin yan kasi hupa agad ang tubig pag nabaha. Okay po ‘yun sa amin. Sana po sa mayor namin ngayon, tuloy-tuloy ang patakbo niya [sa proyekto].”
As part of the community, he and his neighbors clean the canals around their homes to keep the area clean and prevent the accumulation of garbage that causes flooding.
POSO is trying to regularly inspect and clean drainage inlets, rivers, and creeks this rainy season to reduce flooding. However, he said it is still essential to help people discipline in the proper waste disposal and cleaning environment.
“Di natin napapansin ang kakulangan ng disiplina ng ating mga mamamayan partikular na sa pagtatapon ng basura. Sa ating mga commuters, ‘yung mga simple pong maliliit na bagay na tinatapon natin sa sidewalk, walkway, kalsada pumupunta po yan sa inlet. Sometimes kung hindi naman po nahuhulog sa inlet ay bumabara at nagi-stay sa drainage. Kung may mga basura sa mga gutter, tapos pupunta sa mga inlet e maiipon yan at di agad makaka-flow ng maayos [ang baha].”
The chief called on motorists passing through the area this rainy season to be more patient while driving and continue to follow the road rules.
“Payo po natin sa ating mga motorista kung nakakadanas po ng mabigat na daloy ng trapiko, magkaron ng disiplina sa pagmamaneho. Iwasan po natin ang magcounterflow dahil isa po yan sa nagca-cause ng traffic, at di lang po traffic kundi pati aksidente.”
Rodriguez said motorists should be prepared due to the expected heavy traffic flow once the project begins.
“Ia-advance ko na po ang aking panawagan na once magkaroon ng construction muli dito sa Bucal ay iexpect po natin ang heavy traffic dahil po to give way to the construction ng cross drain project sa Brgy. Bucal.”. (with reports from PIA4A)
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