Infra repairs in Cainta not enough to ensure avoiding a repeat of Ondoy Cainta’s flood summit in Oct. to review town’s sold waste plan

by PAMELA T. CABRERA
University of Santo Tomas Journalism program


CAINTA, Rizal—FLOODING still prevails in this municipality that made headlines last year after typhoon Ondoy placed many areas, especially the posh subdivisions, under water.
Weeks before the local government unit will convene a flood summit, clogged esteros and waterways are still prevalent, residents say, and these have not yet eased the municipality’s flooding problems.
For example, damages from the rip-cracked fences that guard Brookside Village and Don Mariano Subdivision from Mapandan creek led to the overflow of the creek when rain hit the area last August 5.
But the Cainta local government unit, led by Mayor Mon Ilagan and Waste Management Office head Atty. Keith Nieto, is clearing off those trash-laden creeks, aside from unclogging drainage systems with the use of vactor machines that run 12 hours a day.
Nieto said the Cainta LGU is also working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to restore wrecked creeks and drainage systems that withstood various typhoons, including Ondoy.
Cainta is currently relocating to Antipolo City a total of 400 families settling along the municipality’s esteros and water way systems, so as to avoid them being swept by running water. Some 130 families have been relocated already.
The LGU also recently launched an “Ilog Ko, Buhay Ko” project that aims to save a polluted Cainta river, the main water basin of the municipality’s esteros and water ways.
Nieto said the town is trying to clean eight months worth of garbage that last year’s typhoon left behind.
Ondoy killed 15 people and affected more than a thousand families here, says official municipal records. Currently, some 130 families were permanently relocated to Antipolo City
Ilagan also announced that Cainta will organize a flood summit this October to not only review the municipality’s 10-year solid waste management plan, but to determine environment-related courses of action so as to avoid a repeat of Ondoy.
Cainta has been spending PhP27 million in these anti-flooding public infrastructure projects, but estimates by some local officials show that PhP100 million is needed to rebuild Cainta. (336 words)