Floods persist despite dredging, drainage

CEBU, Philippines - Even after the Cebu City government spent millions to dredge creeks and clear drainage systems, several downtown streets and other areas of the city were still flooded when the creeks and rivers overflowed during the heavy downpour last Wednesday night.

Mayor Michael Rama said he inspected areas that had a history of flooding, particularly the Mahiga Creek in Barangay Mabolo, to observe the situation, and found there was no flooding there similar to the January 25, 2011 flooding at the North Reclamation Area.

But Rama also admitted several downtown roads, including D. Jakosalem, Manalili and Colon Streets, were swamped.

“Kinahanglan na g’yud nga lingkoran sa mga opisyal kining maong problema aron kapangitaan og sulbad,” the mayor said. He is hoping that the incoming members of the Cebu City Council will no longer stop him from implementing anti-flooding projects.

The mayor also asked the public to refrain from indiscriminately throwing their garbage since these block the drainage systems and cause floods.

The city earlier contracted several private construction companies to dredge several creeks and rivers in Cebu City, but observers said contractors did not touch portions of the creeks in the interior portions far away from the roads.

While the downtown streets in Cebu City are flooded by the Parian Creek, the waterway that passes under several department stores in downtown area going to Pier 3, flooding is not experienced in creeks near the sea.

Some said this only proves that the dredging of creeks, for which the government spent almost P100 million, was not properly implemented.

Mandaue floods

In Mandaue City, heavy rains last Wednesday night also flooded some parts of the city. Heavy traffic also detained motorists for hours particularly along the M.C. Briones national highway.

In a press conference yesterday, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 said they recently completed a concreting project in Sudlon area but failed to construct drainage.

Engineer Myrna dela Cerna, materials and quality assurance chief of DPWH-7 Sixth District Engineering Office, said the City Engineering Office advised the DPWH not to build drainage because the City plans to widen the road.

But architect Florentino Nimor, head of the City Planning Office and a member of the City Drainage Committee, said the city’s list of infrastructure projects does not include any road widening project in Sudlon.

This concern will be tackled during a four-day evaluation of the drainage project along M.C. Briones.

Nimor said the absence of a cross drainage may be the reason floods continue to affect some of the city’s major thoroughfares. He explained that a cross drainage needs to be installed on the road because it cuts across the path of the rainwater runoff.

Yesterday, Nimor also announced that the vacuum truck that the city purchased has arrived and will be ready for use. The city now has two vacuum trucks that will help to suction water whenever heavy rains occur.

Talisay City floods

In Talisay City, barangays Cansojong, Poblacion, Tabunok and Lawaan were also flooded and at least 200 households were affected. 

Poblacion barangay councilman Gabriel Bonjoc said that no one was reported hurt because the families were immediately evacuated. 

City Councilor Danilo Caballero said he will ask the city engineering department to check on the drainage canals to see if they have been cleaned. 

Some residents of Cansojong blamed a noodle factory as a contributor to flooding in their area. Allegedly the factory releases their waste water during heavy rains.  (FREEMAN)