The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here in Cagayan de Oro has started to clean major canals along the highways in anticipation of the rainy season. Sandra Flores, the DPWH spokesperson in Northern Mindanao, said on Wednesday that the cleaning of canals along the highways started last week in time for the opening of classes. She said the DPWH has started to clean the canals to prevent flooding along the highways in anticipation of the rainy season starting this month of June. Flores said that the DPWH has started to move backhoe and dump trucks along the Kauswagan highways here as the cleaning reaches high gear for the past days. “Apart from the accumulated eroded soil and garbage, grasses have also grown in the canal, which obstructs the flow of water,” she said. Flores said that the clogging of canals during rainy days due to “cellophane and plastic bags” becomes inevitable. She said that the DPWH has been campaigning for the proper disposal of garbage and plastics, but it seems “futile.” Flores admitted that it would take a long time to educate the people on how to properly dispose of their garbage. “In the meantime, we will make sure that the canals are cleared of garbage and obstructions to allow the water to flow smoothly during rainy days and avoid the flooding of the city’s major highways here,” she said. pna