Drainage upgrade considered: Dizon to check Cebu flooding

CEBU, Philippines — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon is set to visit Cebu in the coming weeks to personally inspect areas devastated by the recent flooding, as the national government also evaluates whether the province needs the same large-scale drainage upgrades now being implemented in Metro Manila.

The visit comes after heavy rains last Thursday inundated large parts of Cebu City, including communities that had not previously experienced severe flooding, prompting renewed scrutiny of the city's flood-control infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

“Pupunta ako ng Cebu at titignan ko kung anong problema doon,” Dizon said in an interview, noting that his previous visits to Cebu were largely focused on rehabilitation efforts following Typhoon Tino, including flood-control projects.

Dizon has previously overseen flood-mitigation initiatives in Cebu. Following the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino in November last year, the province was prioritized for rehabilitation.

On June 22, 2026, he joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in inspecting the redesigned Mananga River flood-mitigation structures in Talisay City, where gabion walls and redesigned drainage systems were highlighted as nature-based solutions.

“Ang ginawa kasi natin una sa Cebu, priority natin, ayusin yung lahat ng mga nasira nung Tino. So yun halos tapos na tayo sa pagpaayos noon.”

Dizon said the current flooding presents a different challenge.

“Babalikan ko doon i-che-check ko yung ginawa…At the same time, pupunta ako sa city i-che-check ko kung ano yung problema doon,” Dizon added.

He said Cebu may require the same level of drainage modernization now underway in Metro Manila.

“Tingin ko, kung ano yung ginagawa sa Metro Manila na nag u-upgrade tayo ng drainages, kailangan din natin gawin sa Cebu,” Dizon said while inspecting flood-prone corridors in Manila on Friday, including Taft Avenue and España Boulevard.

There, he ordered the replacement of undersized culverts with larger box culverts, the installation of trash traps and the construction of detention basins. He said the projects should be completed within months instead of the years normally required.

“So, ano lang eh, kailangan makita natin kung ano yung nag wo-work, kung ano yung epektibo, gagawin na rin natin sa lahat ng lugar. So pupunta ako doon in a few weeks,” ended  Dizon.

City cleanup

In Cebu City, officials defended their flood-mitigation efforts, saying cleanup and desilting operations had been intensified even before last Thursday’s flooding.

The Department of General Services (DGS) said cleanup operations were carried out from July 23 to 30 at Zulueta Bridge, M.J. Cuenco Avenue, Logarta Street and T. Padilla Bridge.

Crews manually removed debris, deployed excavators in confined river sections and hauled truckloads of garbage. At T. Padilla Bridge, operations lasted several days because of the volume of waste clogging the waterway.

Mayor Nestor Archival said he had already directed the Department of Engineering to inspect upland developments before flooding hit Labangon, Tisa and Punta Princesa on Thursday.

“Kaning baha, dili ra ni sa syudad sa Sugbu. Sa tanan nga mga syudad nga imong makita, naa gyud ang development. Mao na, naa tay mga projects sa pag-mitigate ug pag-control sa baha,” Archival said.

He cited Villa Teresita in Barangay Tisa, where flood-control infrastructure had already been completed but floodwaters still accumulated because garbage clogged the drainage tank.

“Makita nato, ang nisud sa tangke, puros mga garbage. I think half of it, mga garbage. Mao na, bisan naa tay kasudlan sa tubig, dili siya makasud kay ang nakasud didto, 50% garbage. This is something nga kinahanglan ta magtinabangay,” he added.

Archival also said clogged drainage systems rendered pumping equipment ineffective.

“Bisan unsaon pa nimo kadag-a ang motor, dili na ka-suck. Naabot man gani didto ang kutson,” he remarked.

Monterrazas response

Amid continued claims by some residents that Monterrazas de Cebu contributed to flooding in southern barangays, Mont Property Group maintained that its flood-control facilities functioned as designed during last Thursday's heavy rains.

The company said its detention ponds successfully retained runoff water, resulting in zero discharge to downstream drainage systems. It also released timestamped photographs documenting the facilities' performance and said monitoring would continue throughout the rainy season.

Mont Property Group also submitted its June 2026 monthly progress report to Barangay Guadalupe, with copies furnished to the Cebu City Council.

The report stated that detention ponds in Montelago, the YJ Area and Detention Pond No. 5 remained fully operational. Rain gauges were installed at the company's office and clubhouse, while drainage desilting was conducted in Guadalajara as part of its community-relations program.

The company added that inspections after the June 3 heavy rains found only minimal rainwater and silt accumulation, with no surface runoff reaching Guadalajara Road. Monitoring at Guadalupe Heights likewise showed that pumps and detention tanks functioned properly, with rainwater fully captured by upstream detention ponds.(CEBU NEWS)