OBO to check compliance for rainwater catchment

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Building Official (OBO) has been asked by the Cebu City Council to conduct an inspection of establishments to check the compliance of the installation of rainwater tanks.

This has been the approved resolution of Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the Committee of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management of the Cebu City Council.

It was approved during the regular city council session last Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Garganera’s resolution likewise urges the Office of the Mayor, through the Department of General Services (DGS) in coordination with the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) to also put up water conservation tanks or cisterns in all government-owned buildings of the city.

This is on top of his other motion that urges OBO to “strictly implement” and conduct inspections to ensure compliance with City Ordinance No. 2103 as a requirement in the application for a building permit.

The Cebu City Ordinance no. 2103 in 2006 also known as the "Rainwater Conservation Ordinance of the City of Cebu" was approved for the implementation of water conservation practices in all of the city.

Based on section 8 of the said ordinance, "Subdivisions, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and Government Offices, and projects costing more than P250,000 are mandated to construct a rainwater tank or reservoir, or cistern - in proportion to the roof area of the establishment.”

In his resolution, Garganera said that to also effectively implement the provisions of the ordinance, the city must first lead as an example by executing the same mandate.

“Water conservation procedures must be practiced in all establishments both public and private in order to minimize the effects of surface water during the rainy season,” said Garganera.

It was last April 1, 2024, that Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared a water supply crisis in the city due to the ill impacts of El Niño.

“Crisis on water. I will now declare a crisis on water,” Mayor Rama told reporters.

Rama has declared the crisis to intensify preparatory measures over the looming heat index of the city.

“It’s not normal (heat index)...so crisis,” said Rama.

As the efforts are continuous to face the challenges that the El Niño has brought, the public was also urged to conserve water. (CEBU NEWS)