Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria reiterated his statement that the city government will prioritize the repair of roads damaged in the past year this year amid mounting public clamor against the current state of roads in Dumaguete City.

Many roads in Dumaguete have been destroyed recently by heavy rains and flooding with deep potholes posing threat to motorists, especially at night.

Sagarbarria said the city government has about P32 million in surplus funds from 2014, but this will have to be shared among the city’s 30 barangays.

He said the city received P2 million from Senator Teofisto Guingona III for road concreting in Barangay Bajumpandan.

The council has passed two resolutions asking the city government for a road concreting project in the loop road leading to the city’s slaughterhouse, and the construction of a drainage system from the barangay hall to the slaughterhouse.

Bajumpandan kagawad Juancho Gallarde authored the resolutions, seconded by Noel Ramirez, and it was approved by the barangay council.

The road involved is prone to flooding and becomes impassable at times.

Although the city government had constructed a drainage system in the lower portion of Banilad, it still gets flooded as it is a “lagnasan” or an old, original watercourse until it dried up, Sagarbarria said.

He added the city will consider opening that watercourse, or constructing a drainage system across the national highway leading to the sea.

Gallarde said the barangay council is hopeful their request will be realized this year. Gallarde also said the projects have not yet been taken up and approved by the City Development Council.*JFP

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