Tuguegarao mayor warns DPWH projects worsening city flooding

TUGUEGARAO CITY — “Okay pa naman ang Tuguegarao City,” said Mayor Maila Ting-Que in an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE on Monday, 10 November, as the city braced for rising waters the morning after Typhoon Uwan swept across Northern Luzon.

Que said the local government remained on full alert through the night to ensure residents’ safety amid strong winds and scattered rains.

“We needed to make sure we’re safe kagabi during the onslaught of the storm. So far so good, okay pa naman ang gagawang city,” she said. “Kasi today ang pasok ng tubig sa amin. Gano’n po kasi talaga dito sa Tuguegarao — we are the catch basin of other provinces na tinatamaan directly. Dito bumabagsak ang tubig sa amin.”

However, the mayor raised concern over ongoing Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects that she said are worsening, not easing, the city’s flooding.

“Di matapos-tapos ng DPWH kung ano-ano ino-umpisahan. What they’re actually doing is not flood mitigation. Ang ginagawa ng DPWH, creating new road networks na hindi din lulusot ang tubig,” Que said.

“Hindi viaduct ang ginawa nila — nag-bypass road sila, humarang lalo sa daanan ng tubig. So that’s not flood mitigation. That’s traffic alleviation, not flood control.”

She added that the city government has repeatedly requested updates and revisions from the DPWH Cagayan 3rd District Engineering Office, but has not received a response.

“We’ve been asking for answers, pero wala pa ring tugon. Talagang nagmamatigas pa ang district engineer na nandito sa 3rd District ng Cagayan,” Que said.

As of 11:00 a.m., the Cagayan PDRRMO reported that Buntun Bridge’s water level reached 9.7 meters, with nearby barangays under close monitoring. City officials remain on heightened alert as floodwaters from upstream provinces are expected to flow into Tuguegarao throughout the day.