MGB urges dams for flood-stricken sitio

CEBU - The top official of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau in Central Visayas yesterday encouraged the developer of the Monterrazas de Cebu in the hillsides of barangay Guadalupe to construct additional gabion dams or dikes to prevent further soil erosion that might cause more flashfloods in sitio Dakit.

“Kinahanglang daghanon nila ang paghimo og gabion dams aron makatabang pagpugong sa pagdahili sa tubig ug lapok direkta sa kabalayan sa kinaubsan,” said MGB-7 regional director Roger de Dios, who visited the development site noon yesterday.

A gabion is a cylinder of wickerwork filled with earth, often used as a military defense.

Aside from De Dios, Vice Mayor Michael Rama and a few city councilors also went to the Landco development site in barangay Guadalupe yesterday.

Landco is the developer of the 200-hectare residential area that encompasses areas in barangays Tisa, Labangon and Guadalupe.

Dindo Perez, the managing director of Genvi Development Corp., Landco’s partner in the Monterrazas de Cebu project, said they will follow the advice of the MGB official.

For now Landco is ceasing development in the area after its development permit was suspended by Mayor Tomas Osmeña last April after sitio Dakit was first flooded and the residents blamed Landco.

Perez also showed Rama the hilly portion that was already covered by nets to prevent soil erosion. That place will soon be planted with vines to prevent the soil from eroding.

The city officials yesterday found out that some of the residents in sitio Dakit are staying there despite the risk of flooding everytime it rains.

Some of the affected families said they do not like to be relocated to sitio Mahayahay because the place is reportedly very remote.

Rama said Landco and Monterrazas de Cebu must look for another relocation site.

“Kun papuy-on nila sa apartment ang maong mga pamilya mas labing maayo,” Rama said in jest.

The residents said their place started experiencing flooding only after the nearby mountains were destroyed by Landco for the residential site.

Once fully developed, the subdivision is expected to sell at P10,000 to P15,000 per square-meter. – Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)