P54-M Baguio drainage project now under way

By Dexter See

BAGUIO CITY — Giant screens are now being installed within the City Camp lagoon here which forms part of the P54-million rehabilitation of the over 3.8-km drainage system to end perennial flooding of over 3,000 houses within the barangays comprising the City Camp area.

Ireneo S. Gallato, district engineer of the Baguio City District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said the agency received P29 million out of the total fund allocated for the project to start implementation in tome for the rainy season.

Because of rampant dumping of garbage on creeks that are tributaries to the City Camp lagoon area, the flooding that affects more or less 3,000 houses has become a perennial problem causing serious problems among residents in the area.

Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara, who sourced out the fund for the ambitious project, said the rehabilitation of the lagoon is the first essential project approved by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III when he assumed office nearly nine months ago.

In preparation for the expected overflow of garbage in the area during the rainy season, Vergara said the installation of the giant screens will filter the solid garbage entering the mouth of the tunnel to prevent clogging along its stretch so that the situation in the area will be placed under control.

Once the remaining P25 million balance for the project is released anytime this year, the lawmaker added it will be used to widen some portions of the lagoon tunnel in order to allow water flowing into the wide bowl-shaped community to freely flow into its exit point within the crystal Cave area.

In the early 1990s, the same tunnel was widened and dredged through the initiative of Vergara and Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan that spared the City Camp community from the al flooding but the same problem suddenly occurred the past years because unscrupulous individuals stole the giant screens that were installed on its mouth that allowed debris to be washed into the tunnel and clog its narrow portions.