Contractors told: Declog drainage around job sites

The Makati City government through the Office of the Building Officials ordered all developers and contractors of ongoing constructions in the city including those involved in the construction of high rise to conduct regular declogging of drainage facilities around their job sites to prevent flooding during heavy rain. 

A memorandum signed by Elmer Acuesta, acting city engineer and OBO chief, said residues of construction materials are clogging up the drainage system around construction sites that cause frequent flooding every time it rains.

“We have issued the directive after flooding has been consistently observed in areas around construction sites, despite regular maintenance works being done by our city engineering personnel on all our drainage system and waterways,” Acuesta said.

The OBO has also required all concerned developers and contractors to submit a maintenance report every month to the city Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), through its District Office that has jurisdiction over the project site, until the completion of their project.

“All concerned entities should strictly comply with the directive by regularly clearing their project sites of all construction debris, including concrete mixtures, soil, gravel and sand, and submit monthly maintenance reports to the concerned DEPW District Office,” he said.

Acuesta said his office will issue a work stoppage order to those who fail to comply with his memorandum. He said random checks will be conducted at construction sites by a team of engineers and personnel from the Enforcement Division of the OBO and DEPW, in coordination with barangay officials.

“We expect the full cooperation and support of all concerned in keeping our drainage system free-flowing to keep our streets flood-free, and also prevent the spread of water-borne diseases like dengue and leptospirosis,” the city official said.