Mandaue City flooding needs Cebu City’s help

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City’s perennial flooding is due to multi-faceted factor that it needs everyone’s cooperation, especially among neighboring local governments like Cebu City.

So said Araceli Barlam, head of Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office, during the stakeholders round table discussion on the city’s flooding held last Thursday.

She said there are still lot to be done to mitigate the flood problem in the city, which was the reason why the city signed a memorandum of understanding and a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu City Government.

Barlam said that there are still projects under the “Beyond Borders” program that need a lot of funding and they will present this before the Regional Development Council-7 Infrastructure Committee on Aug. 1, and Aug. 15, 2024 and during the RDC Full Council Meeting on Sept. 14.

“We cannot do this alone, we need to work beyond borders,” said Barlam adding both cities share the same river, the Butuanon River.

To recall, 352 families and 1,405 individuals were evacuated on June 15, 2023 after the Butuanon River overflowed even when there is no rain in Mandaue City

“Walay uwan sa Mandaue pero nagbaha lang gihapon tungod kay ni-overflow ang Butuanon River unya ang uwan gikan sa Cebu City,” Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes earlier said.

He emphasized in his opening speech that they “are not here to pinpoint anyone or to blame anyone for the city’s flooding but we came here to come up with a positive measure to address the issues on flooding.”

Cebu City also acknowledges the problem, hence the signing of the agreement.

Cortes asked all the stakeholders to commit and solve the flooding problem all together.

“Dugay na gyod ning problema sa baha in Mandaue, wala pako ma-congresswoman. But, now, we are able to contribute sa solusyon pinaagi sa pagpangita og pundo didto sa kaulohan,” also said Mandaue City Lone District Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon.

“I am happy to note that in Butuanon River alone, which spans almost 8 kilometers traversing nine barangays, DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) has covered 38 percent of the stretch with flood control structures worth P1.1 billion, which have created a positive impact, as backed by video testimonies of residents,” she added.

Ouano-Dizon said that through her initiative, DPWH-7 still a P1-billion funding for use this year.

“I will continue to work hard to secure additional budget para makompleto gyod na ang tibuok Mandaue side sa Butuanon River. In due time, labi na og mabuhat sa city ilang commitment to clear some portions nga naay illegal structures and informal settlers, masulbad ra gyod ni,” she said.

“Luwas na unya ang kadaghanan namuyo along and nearby Butuanon River sa ilang pagpuyo, bisan pa mobunok ang uwan. Mao pod atong tinguha dinha sa A.S. Fortuna (St.), in coordination sa city and DPWH,” she further said.

Ouano-Dizon said earlier that the flood mitigation and drainage improvement programs worth P1.9 billion are the largest shares from the infrastructure budget for the city and that she aggressively pushed this to be included in the General Appropriations Act of 2024.

She said that appreciated the National Government’s efforts of giving importance to flood control and mitigation program since this will help address the persistent flooding problem hounding Mandaue City.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with the mayor, the City Engineering Office and residents of Brgy. Ibabao-Estancia have agreed to work together to halt flooding in the area.

This was after the engineering office told the mayor that plenty of garbage are clogging the drainage in the barangay.

Cortes urged all residents to be mindful of their garbage and not to throw it anywhere, especially in canals or in the city’s drainage systems.

Yesterday, the Emergency Response Team in every Mandaue City barangay conducted a clean-up drive, which was participated in by the different local and national agencies, including the Bureau of Fire Protection, Mandaue City Engineering Office, Department of General Services, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, and barangay employees.

The clean-up drive was to ensure that the drainage system in the city are free from garbage to avert flooding.

Three-meter easement

In Cebu City, more business establishments are now heeding the call to voluntarily demolish structures built within the three-meter easement of its rivers or even in sidewalks.

Under the Water Code of the Philippines, the easement of waterways in urban areas, measuring three meters from each river bank, should be free of any structures.

Among the latest addition to the number of establishments that have volunteered to demolish their structure within the easement is Southern Groove Properties (SGP).

According to the City’s Public Information Office, SGP demolished its warehouse located across the Cebu Technical University campus along R. Palma in Barangay San Roque that another business establishment is renting.

A house by the Tabacalera Bridge on M.J. Cuenco Avenue was also cleared voluntarily by the owner, while the management of Howling Dogs Bar and Grill at the corner of D. Jakosalem St. and Gen. Maxilom Ave. also voluntarily cleared portions of their property blocking the sidewalk.

The City’s Task Force Gubat sa Baha is constantly monitoring and meeting with business establishments for them to clear the easement, which is among its efforts to address flooding in the city. — (FREEMAN)