Mayor revives easement drive to address Cebu City flooding

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is reviving efforts initiated by former mayor Michael Rama to recover the three-meter easement along city rivers as a key measure to address the city’s persistent flooding problem.

Archival’s Chief of Staff Kenneth Siasar, in a press briefing, confirmed that the profiling and revalidation of households and establishments along waterways are underway, with the City Legal Office tasked with ensuring that all actions are legally defensible.

The move comes as Cebu City continues to reel from repeated flooding.

Rama’s “Gubat sa Baha,” launched during his last term, sought to enforce the Water Code of the Philippines by clearing structures that encroached on riverbanks.

The program was not sustained after Rama’s term was cut short, although several establishments had voluntarily demolished illegal structures in support of the campaign.

Archival now intends to resume the effort, stressing that the three-meter easement is non-negotiable if the city is to address its flooding woes.

Siasar said the city’s Flood and Drainage Council has been directed to resume field inspections.

“Nag suroy-suroy ang atong grupo sa flood and drainage council sa implementation sa three-meter easement. Lisod gyud ta mosud sa sapa tungod daghan kaayong buildings ug balay nga nag-ali,” he said, pointing to areas such as Tagunol, Estero de Parian and the Sikatuna Bridge, where large structures block access for heavy equipment.

He added that river troopers under the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) have had to swim into clogged sections to manually remove debris because equipment cannot reach the choke points.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) is also conducting profiling to determine whether occupants along waterways have legal documents or are informal settlers.

“As we speak, ang atong DWUP nag suroy-suroy, nag profiling sila sa mga balay-balay ug mga building sa kilid sa sapa kay giklaro nato, naa na bay dokuymento na sila or wala ba,” Siasar said.

He noted that during Rama’s administration, relocation sites were offered to affected families, but many refused because of the distance from their homes and livelihoods.

Archival’s administration is now retrieving those records to continue the process.

Siasar said Archival has emphasized that all clearing and demolition activities must pass through the City Legal Office to avoid possible liability.

“Before the Mayor imparts on something, iyang eagi sa city legal aron di sad ta masikwati, maseisgrasya nya ta. Magpa hero-hero ta, nya mapreso nya ta,” Siasar explained, stressing the need to observe due process in demolition and clearing operations.

The City Council has also previously discussed why Rama’s easement recovery effort was not fully pursued, noting that political transitions disrupted its continuity.

Earlier, Barangay Pasil passed a resolution urging the city government to enforce the mandatory three-meter easement along the Guadalupe River, citing frequent flooding during heavy rains and high tide.

Archival’s administration has also secured national government support for flood-control measures.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated ?200 million for a major drainage project in Cebu City’s South District, including excavation equipment to desilt and clear clogged tributaries.

Archival said the equipment will be deployed to choke points in eight rivers, stressing that engineering solutions must be paired with public discipline. — (FREEMAN)