‘Paki ayos po ang trabaho ninyo’ - Councilor Bon-as urges contractors to fix drainage canal in Nambaran road project amid flooding

Tabuk City, Kalinga – City Councilor Jayferson Bon-as, on September 30, urged contractors behind the road and flood control project in Nambaran, which residents in the area see as the reason in the recent massive flooding that they experienced for the first time in their decades long of settlement.

Heavy downpour is a regular occurrence during rainy season in Kalinga with the province being one of the places constantly hit by typhoons and weather disturbances, but what was not a normal circumstance is floodwaters piling up and entering houses, particularly in an elevated area like Nambaran, Tabuk City.

On September 25, the residents especially those in Junction, Daya, and Laod were surprised by knee-level flood waters entering their residence after only an hour of rain – a first-time incident in the barangay and a circumstance to have only happened due to the road widening and construction of flood control project in the area, according to the constituents. 

Taking the podium on September 30, Bon-as, also one of the residents of Nambaran, delivered his privilege speech before the August body, raising the collective clamor of the community about the flooding in Nambaran.

“Sa tinagal tagal ko pong nanirahan sa Nambaran – in fact, doon na po ako isinilang at nagkaisip, pero ngayon lamang po namin naranasan ang ganitong sitwasyon, ang biglaang pagbaha sa aming lugar. Sa totoo lang po, nagsimula po ang pagbaha noong masimulan ang proyektong Road Widening, Flood Mitigation Structure at Construction of Flood Control ng DPWH nitong August 2025,” said Bon-as.

The city legislator described that the canals in the area were backfilled due to the widening of the road, causing a waterlog. 

While he did not name the contractor, Bon-as called them out, urging them to fix their work, saying, “I would like to call the attention of this contractor to please ayusin po ninyo ang trabaho niyo lalo na at talamak ngaun ang isyu ng korupsyon sa mga flood control projects.”

In an interview, Bon-as said they gave the contractor a week to fix the drainage canal and to enhance their work, otherwise they will be called to appear at the Sangguniang Panlungsod to explain.

The councilor added that as a law maker and member of the policy-making body in Tabuk City, it is his duty to promote the safety and welfare of the people, not only in Nambaran, but in the entire Tabuk City.

“We cannot afford to risk the lives of our constituents, ken haan nga rumbeng nga agpan-panic iti kakailyan tayo nu kada agtudo ket agdanag dan ta baka ma-flood da. Isu nga we urged the contractor to fix diay project, otherwise we summon them to explain, in aid of legislation,” he said, in the interview.