P2 billion earmarked for flood control projects in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — At least P2 billion has been set aside by the Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) for major flood control infrastructures in Cebu City next year.

Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure, said the amount was based on the Program of Works and Estimates (POWE) for flood control projects in 2025. Guardo said the city government has also requested the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to allocate more funding for similar infrastructure projects under the umbrella of the “Beyond Border” agreement between the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

“Especially Butuanon River kay naa man ni sa boundary of Cebu and Mandaue so dako dako jud nga budget ang kinahanglan. We need help from the national government,” said Guardo.

Beyond Border is a Collaborative River Governance Forum initiative to address flooding in the two urban cities. Earlier, officials of Cebu City and Mandaue signed a commitment to actively support the rehabilitation of Butuanon and Mahiga Rivers which are in the borders of the two cities.

Among the major projects to be funded by the P2 billion from DPWH are transitory homes for informal settlers affected by the clearing of the waterways and construction of gabion dams.

Gabion dams and mini dams are to be installed in upland areas to reduce the volume of ran off water cascading down the city streets that caused flooding in the lowland.

As part of the long-term plans, Guardo said they have identified four to five areas where mini dams will be built. These are eyed to be in similar capacity with Buhisan dam.

“Dako kaayo ni ang ma retain nga volume sa water from upstream then if ma retain sad sya then we can use it economically to supply a bulk water supply to MCWD,” said Guardo.

Meanwhile, members of the Task Force Gubat sa Baha (TFGsB) alongside representatives from the legislative and executive departments are regularly meeting every week to discuss the flood mitigating programs. The Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of planning engineers from DEPW DPWH- Engineering Office and its regional office is also required in the weekly meeting.

“So (that) they can come up with a design and appropriate budget for the implementation of this flood control projects,” said Guardo.

Among the immediate concerns to address flooding, Guardo said, is to recover the three-meter easements of Estero de Parian and Lahug River. According to Guardo, the water flow from the two waterways is currently constricted due to informal settlers and other establishments.

He, however, assured that the Task Force Gubat sa Baha has been aggressively clearing the waterways from informal settlers and illegal structures.

Guardo said they found clearing illegal structures one at a time to be a more “realistic” approach but funding is also needed to immediately implement a flood control project after the clearing.

“Kay we did it before nga we did the clearing operation, naguba ang mga balay. Pagkaguba, wala namay ni pugong sa mga tubig bitaw dinha daplin sa sapa so ang nahitabo, ni overflow na hinuon ang tubig so it causes flooding,” he said.

Guardo said 92-percent of the informal settlers along Estero de Parian have volunteered to demolish their structures provided the city government will give them relocation. Business establishments that refused to cooperate were not given a renewal of their business permit unless they volunteer to clear the no-build zone they occupied. — (FREEMAN)