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DPWH eyes new law to prevent repeat of deadly Davao flood


After flash floods killed at least 30 people in Davao City, the Department of Public Works and Highways is eyeing a new legislation requiring urban residential developers to build a retaining basin for water from drainage systems. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said drainage systems cannot be connected directly to waterways or water channels, which he said may not be able to handle the volume of water in case of heavy rains. "Dapat may ilalabas na batas na magbabawal sa mga subdivision na magawa ng drainage system na direktang tumutungo sa mga water channel. Ang water channels ay may certain carrying capacity. Usually maliit na tributaries lang ang mga ito. Hindi pwedeng idiretso doon ang tubig from subdivisions. Dapat imbakin muna sa isang catchment basin at padaluyin unti-unti," Singson said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said he plans to work out the matter with Congress. Singson said the DPWH's proposal will bar major development projects in urban centers from directly discharging drainage to waterways. He said that in the case of Fort Bonifacio, a retaining basin six stories deep was built to absorb the drainage to avert flooding. On the other hand, he reminded local government units to conduct maintenance work on rivers such as de-silting. "We have found for instance that in Metro Manila, most of our drainage and lateral canals are silted. We need maintenance for them and we cannot just neglect them," he said. — LBG, GMA News

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