A LAWMAKER filed a resolution urging all 182 barangays in Davao City to routinely maintain, clear, and clean canals, drainage systems, and waterways within their respective areas to prevent flooding and protect public health.
Councilor Jessica “Cookie” Bonguyan, committee chair on public works and highways, presented the resolution at Tuesday’s regular session.
The resolution noted that the city government, through the Ancillary Services Unit, the City Engineer’s Office, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, continuously carries out desilting and major clean-up operations on primary waterways and roads.
“Barangays must take charge of smaller neighborhood drainage systems and secondary canals, such as inlets along barangay roads, to sustain the clearing efforts initiated by city-level departments,” Bonguyan said.
The councilor cited Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, and Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, as legal bases for barangay-level responsibility over drainage upkeep and solid waste management.
According to the resolution, heavy rainfall frequently triggers localized street flooding and health risks when community canals become choked with silt, solid waste, and domestic obstructions.
The measure requests and enjoins all barangay councils in the city to conduct regular, scheduled neighborhood clean-up drives dedicated to keeping public canals and lateral drainage systems free of garbage, debris, and silt.
It also urges barangay officials to mobilize residents, purok leaders, and volunteer groups to practice proper waste segregation and disposal to keep garbage out of waterways.
Bonguyan told barangay councils to promptly report major issues through official city hotlines such as Davao City Reports. Local elected officials are further encouraged to coordinate directly with local government offices for heavy equipment needs or severe structural blockages beyond their capacity.
