Blueprints must indicate cisterns

CEBU, Philippines - To help prevent flashfloods, all new buildings in Mandaue City are required to put up cisterns for the purpose of catching rainwater.

City Engr. Greg Omo in a press statement said that City Resolution No. 78-10, authored by Councilor Demetrio Cortes Jr. and implemented only late last year, provides that all building applications with a minimum of 20 square meters in area, both commercial and residential, including public buildings, are required to construct a cistern, which should be included in the building plan.

Omo said that without this facility, a building permit will not be issued.

Omo said there is no specification on the tank as long as it can catch enough rainwater.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes during a meeting with department heads emphasized the importance of cisterns in light of the January 25 flashfloods in the city.

Cortes said Mandaue City has become a catch basin of water from the upland, including Cebu City.

He said water from Talamban now is absorbed by the drainage system in M.L. Quezon specifically by Cabancalan which travels to Casuntingan.

Because of the huge volume of water, the drainage system at Villa Therese collapsed. 

Cortes said the same thing happened in Banilad, specifically within the area of Rolling Hills.

The mayor, on the other hand, has expressed full support to the efforts of Soil, Water Conservation Foundation and Coca Cola Foundation in helping restore the Butuanon River Watershed.

Under this program, two cisterns measuring 12 cubic meters each had been built in the Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School in Poblacion and in Tipolo National High School.

William Granert, executive director of the foundation, said three more will be built in Mandaue City and five others in Cebu City.

"Rainwater can be used instead of the water from the faucet thereby saving our resources and at the same time helping prevent flashfloods," Granert said.

Part of the program is educating the stakeholders: decision-makers like public officials, businessmen, students and other sectors.

In view of this, the foundation has scheduled a one-day tour by Mandaue City department heads in the watershed area.