By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

DEPARTMENT of Public Works Secretary Jose Demapan on Saturday said there are some deficiencies in the design of the Garapan drainage system.
Demapan said 50 percent of the new design for the drainage system has already been completed and they are still working on finishing the rest.
Admitting that the drainage system has to be re-designed, he said DPW has been planning to fix the Garapan drainage system.
But, he added, they have to work first on the maintenance and operational design to make sure they will come out with a better system.
He said they have to build a ponding basin near Winchells along Beach Road, and work on a drainage system in front of Fiesta Resort & Spa.
Early this month, some businesses complained of a stench that they believe was coming from the drainage ditch which contained dark and stagnant water.
A restaurant owner in the Paseo De Marianas area said they had been losing potential customers, including tourists, due to the bad smell.
The Department of Public Health’s environmental health division admitted that the problem was brought to their attention about 10 years ago.
The division said it has cleaned up the ditch, but will look into the problem once again.