Council approves creation of TWG for gabion dams

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance creating a technical working group (TWG) for the establishment of gabion dams in the city.

The proposed ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Mandating the Creation Of A Technical Working Group For The Conduct Of Research, Design, Build, And Establishment Of Gabion Dams Or Other Water Impounding or Recharging Facilities, as a water resource for strategic sites within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Cebu, and Providing A Budgetary Allocation for the purpose” was authored by Councilors Nestor Archival Sr., Joy Young, Jocelyn Pesquera, and Joel Garganera.

“Gabion dams and similar structures promote environmental resilience by controlling erosion, improving water quality, and enhancing biodiversity,” said Archival in defending his proposed measure during the final reading on August 7, 2024.

Aside from flood control, gabion dams are also seen to provide water security among the communities especially in times of drought.

According to the proposed measure, the city is currently experiencing water crisis which was aggravated by the continuing saltwater intrusion due to incubated underground extraction.

“Aside from the Buhisan Watershed, the City of Cebu has no other watershed or water dams built as a viable source for water production to address the high demand for water supply in the city,” it says.

The measure defines gabion dams as small barriers constructed on a series of gabion baskets bound together to form a flexible row that acts to slow down the water flow in drainage ditches or storm water runoff channels.

The TWG will be composed of the head of the Department of Engineering and Public Works as ex-officio chairman, head of the City Planning and Development Office as ex-officio vice-chairman with the chair of the Committee on Transportation, Communication, and Utilities, chair of the Committee on Infrastructure, head of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and Board Member of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) as members. (CEBU NEWS)