NAGA CITY (April 22, 2012) – Over 20,000 residents of Barangays San Felipe and Calauag in this city, represented by their village officials, are urging the City Government and the Public Works agency to implement the proposed P10-Million worth of storm drainage project, aimed at stopping the perennial flooding in two housing areas that directly affect 5,000 residents.
Calauag barangay captain Vidal P. Castillo said that a proposed storm canal at the Calauag creek that will drain to the Baras creek in adjacent Canaman town will alleviate the flooding at the CLOPA, a socialized housing project for low income families with 900 units that are home to 3,000 households.
In times of heavy rains, the Calauag Elementary School with 2,000 pupils often suspend classes when knee-deep to waist-deep floods submerge the school grounds.
Middle-class dwellers at Villa Carangahan, a subdivision in adjacent barangay San Felipe are not spared from the perennial flooding that come on and off for the last two decades, Castillo said.
Brief but strong summer rains last March also caused flash floods in the said area.
According to Castillo, a team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office inspected the proposed site of the storm canal last year, but is unclear on where to get the P10 million funds needed to put up the urgent infrastructure. (SONNY SALES)