A window of opportunity is lost
Before anything else, let me express the gratitude of the LGU of Catigbian, Bohol, to Cebu City Councilor Hans Nendell Abella, for his help in appeasing troubled Boholanos. Catigbian Vice Mayor Necita Digaum and the members of the Sanggunian Bayan, together with the chairmen of 22 barangays came to Cebu to enhance their understanding of local legislation. Immediately after the seminar, Barangay Captain Roland Saraum went for a quick errand. He met an accident near an uptown mall and was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center. The information reaching the Catigbian town officials was scanty until Abella went out of his way to gather complete information on the condition of Saraum and relayed it to the Secretary to the Sanggunian Bayan Ardissa Estavilla. Out of the effort of Abella, the Boholanos, were not left in the dark. Thank you very much, councilor.
Last week, PAGASA recorded the highest temperature reading of 34.5 degrees Celsius, and the heat index of about 40 degrees Celsius, here in Cebu City. PAGASA then warned us of warmer weather as specialists, using available models, forecast the same, if not hotter, condition to last towards the later part of May.
I used the weather forecast as basis to say in this column that the city government had the prevailing dry season to avail as it should pursue necessary projects. I was thinking that the clearing the riverbanks of the city of informal settlers should be a top priority. The findings of city engineering office were alarming. According to the city's engineers the structures built by squatters along the rivers ate the portions called easements and resulted in the shrinking of the waterway. In many areas, house posts were erected on the river beds and impeded water flow. Without doubt, they were the main cause of city's recurring flash floods.
Indeed, the ideal time to prepare for the floods was the dry season that PAGASA forecast. Before the rains came the volume of water was low and the banks not muddy. I then cited the success of the Mandaue City government in demolishing structures along Mahiga River at the reclamation area. Mayor Luigi Quisumbing then succeeded to widen the mouth. The foreseeable net effect of such effort is to prevent flooding because the water would no longer overflow the banks.
I have not seen a similar effort in Cebu City. In barangay Kasambagan alone, where Mahiga River winds, the city has allowed the continuous shrinking of the waterway. The influx of settlers remains unabated. Their number is exponentially increasing and their audacity alarming. If only to widen the livable area of their homes, they recklessly occupy whatever space there is on the banks.
This situation is observable in other rivers of the city. If we stop on the bridge in Doña Modesta Street and look at the thousands of structures below, we shall notice that the river is reduced to being a small creek and the waterway almost gone.
I am horrified to imagine that when the dry season is finally over, disaster might strike. In fact, the brief heavy rains we experienced in the last few days gave us ominous signs. They were brief but even then low-lying areas were flooded. What could happen when the rainy season brings us heavy rains for long stretches of time?
It is quite unfortunate that city officials failed to take advantage of the dry season. The opportunity is seemingly lost. They could have done something in the interest of common weal. Their inaction is lamentable.
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