AN expanded closed-circuit television (CCTV) system in the city’s streets, a fire safety system for four public markets, and a modern mass transport system for Cagayan de Oro City.
These are some of the ‘big ticket’ projects being prepared by Cagayan de Oro City Hall as ordered by Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy for recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for national government funding, said City Hall’s chief development planner a day after a joint City Development Council-City Peace Development Security Council (CDC-CPDSC) meeting.
“No confirmation yet on when the President will come to Cagayan de Oro (but that’s the mayor’s verbal instruction),” said acting City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) chief Ramil Balquin.
During the meeting, Balquin said a resolution was also filed supporting the conduct of a feasibility study for an integrated flood control management system in Cagayan de Oro.
The resolution came after Councilor Edgar Cabanlas called on fellow city officials to find ways to seek funding for an effective flood control project in Cagayan de Oro City following days of flooding due to incessant rains in recent days.
“We shouldn’t rely on the Department of Public Works and Highways to complete these projects because they do it on a piecemeal basis and they don’t even coordinate with us,” Cabanlas said.
When asked whether they have a master plan for a flood control management system for the city and if their office is capable of drafting such a plan, City Engineering Office (CEO) chief Engr. Jenito Asequia said it’s beyond their current capacity to do so.
Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya asked the officials in attendance if they are open to the possibility of the city contracting a loan for the project.
Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez supported the idea but said any flood control project should undergo extensive study by experts before it is considered for funding by external sources.
Asequia said they proposed to Mayor Uy that a water impounding system be implemented as a flood control measure for the city.
A multi-billion peso mega dike project spanning several barangays in Cagayan de Oro City is currently being implemented by DPWH with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The completion of the mega dike project is seen in 2025. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
