Nearly 70 developers face flood audit

CEBU, Philippines — Close to 70 developers of upland projects in the South District of Cebu City are now under evaluation as the city government intensifies its scrutiny of hillside construction and its impact on flooding.

In a press briefing yesterday, Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Mayor Nestor Archival, said the Office of the Mayor had issued letters to 65 developers requiring them to submit flood-mitigation plans, including detention ponds, with August 16 as the deadline.

“Aron nga atong gipangayo sa ilaha is detention pond, flood-mitigating measures sa ilang subdivision, sa ilang kompanya, unya today is the deadline for them to submit,” Siasar said, stressing that the city is demanding proof of facilities capable of absorbing runoff from cemented surfaces.

Siasar said inspections are scheduled for August 27 to verify whether the submitted flood-control measures exist and function as claimed.

“Once mag-submit na sila, next week is ato sila i-meeting. And then mag-inspection kita on the 27th of this month aron i-validate nato nga ang ilang gisubmit nga detention pond ug katong mga flood-mitigating measures tinuod ba nga existing,” he explained.

Archival is expected to report the findings to the public on August 31.

Asked about possible sanctions, Siasar said discrepancies between the developers’ submissions and actual site conditions would be referred to the City Legal Office.

“The moment walay, if there is a disconnect between sa ilang gi-submit ug sa actual inspection nato, and then atong i-refer sa city legal for legal action,” he said.

The directive covers both high-end and low-end subdivision projects, with Monterrazas de Cebu and Arcenas Estates among those included.

“I think apil sila, kay sila ma’y naglangkob sa South District…Mga dagko, mga high-end ug mga low-end nga developers atong gi-consider. Kay nakacontribute man gyud sila,” Siasar noted.

The move comes amid heightened concern over upland development, as flooding in barangays such as Tisa, Labangon and Guadalupe, as well as other areas in the South District, underscores the need for stricter oversight.

Background reports from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) also point to the need for science-based watershed management.

Developers, particularly those behind the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu project, have claimed compliance, citing the construction of 24 detention ponds with a combined capacity exceeding city requirements.

However, some city councilors and environmental advocates remain cautious, calling for independent verification of the facilities. — Preciosa Bacalso/FPL (FREEMAN)