THE city approved a master drainage plan in 2016, but its implementation has faced a series of setbacks due to right of way issues.
City Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said the City Council will be involved in negotiating with the Limketkai group to proceed with the project that would connect Agora's drainage to a creek through the Limketkai property.
Lao has an ongoing committee meeting with the Limketkai group and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under his committee on public utilities on how they are going to proceed with the project.
"We shall craft a comprehensive and integrated drainage plan. When I say integrated plan, this is because we want also to put up drainage in hinterland barangays because they affect the flooding downtown. But this problem with the drainage in Agora is the top priority considering that the area is highly susceptible to flood," he said.
The DPWH in Northern Mindanao has earlier disclosed that they cannot finish the project as the Limketkai is against the plan.
It also cannot expropriate the property because it does not know whether the property is public or private.
But Councilor Lao said the DPWH and city officials should insist that the road where the drainage will traverse is a public domain.
"It's a road lot, so it is a property of the state. According to the Limketkai group, they can't agree because they fear that the project won't be sustained, but we are committed to clean the drainage from time to time," he added.
"They should agree because it's clear that they are the ones most affected with the flood. We always complain but when solutions are there, we refuse to accept it, we reject it," he said.
He said another round of committee meeting is scheduled this week and the Limketkai group has been invited to come up with solutions.
DPWH-Northern Mindanao project engineer Leowald Pecore said completion of all the drainage projects, especially the drainage from Agora to Limketkai project, will greatly help solve urban flooding experienced along CM Recto Avenue.
