CEBU CITY—The local government of Cebu City is expediting river cleanup efforts to facilitate the development of river parks, aimed at bolstering the city’s flood mitigation strategies.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative began with the deployment of a new siphoning machine provided by Innomech Tooling and Engineering Services, which was demonstrated at the Estero de Parian on Tuesday. This equipment is set to enhance the removal of silts and sludge, which cannot be efficiently managed through manual methods. The mayor emphasized that this advanced cleaning technology marks the commencement of extensive dredging operations across all city tributaries.
The plan includes transforming these cleaned areas into river parks, designed to encourage community gatherings and recreational activities while maintaining ongoing flood prevention measures. Garcia outlined that these parks would not only offer spaces for public enjoyment but also play a crucial role in keeping the rivers free from blockages that contribute to flooding.
The city government is in the process of finalizing a service contract with the equipment provider to continue the extensive cleaning and dredging efforts necessary to realize these dual-purpose recreational and flood defense zones.