Same flood, different year

Things were slowing down last Friday as the week came to a close --on a holiday, at that. I had initially made plans to hang out with some friends that afternoon, hoping to unwind and enjoy a relaxed day. But just as I was on my way to the city, heavy rain poured. In a matter of minutes, the downpour disrupted most of what we were supposed to do. We waited it out and, when the rain finally subsided, we tried to resume what was left of our plans. Unfortunately, we were soon met with a familiar and frustrating sight: flooded streets, once again.

The day after, the scenario was even more disheartening. Along our coastal areas, mounds of trash had washed up. The FREEMAN's Aldo Banaynal captured the situation perfectly through his lens: heaps of plastic waste, primarily beverage bottles, blocking water outlets and clogging drainage systems. It was a disgusting sight. Curiously, birds poked at the trash, perhaps trying to make sense of the mess. For them, it might have been unusual. But for us Cebuanos, sadly, this is starting to feel like the norm.

What’s baffling is that we had weeks of sunny weather prior to this, plenty of time to prepare for the arrival of the rainy season. There were opportunities to clean and widen the canals and waterways. These proactive measures could have mitigated the flooding. Maybe efforts were made but not made known. However, the reality remains that the chronic problem of improper garbage disposal is deeply rooted and cannot be solved overnight. Like a chess game heading toward an unavoidable end, we find ourselves in a constant state of checkmate. We can only address this if we restart the game.

Mandaue City reported that more than 40 families had to evacuate because of the flooding. Every time the water rises to waist level, the same scenario plays out. While I do recognize and commend the city’s quick response and disaster preparedness, it's hard not to wonder if there could have been more sustainable, long-term solutions already in place. Yes, flood control infrastructure is in the works, but at what cost are these projects being implemented? And are they truly addressing the root causes?

We now find ourselves in the final weeks of the current local government administration. As we brace for the transition, it’s hard not to reflect on their past three years in office. What have they truly made in addressing climate change and its local impacts? Perhaps their plans were delayed by bureaucracy. Maybe they lacked the enforcement mechanisms or the support they needed. These are not easy tasks, but neither are they impossible.

With stronger political will, genuine community participation, and accountability, things could change. They must before the same flood greets us yet again. Many experts have already lobbied their suggestions to the governments involved in this perennial problem. Others have rushed to implement but there are also those who chose their own ways. Either way, we hope.