In Mandaue City: Gabion dams eyed to control flooding

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Ernie Manatad is pushing for the construction of gabion dams in the mountain barangays to address flooding in the city.

Manatad said small dams will help slow down water runoff to lowlands during rainy season.

Manatad, president of the Association of Barangay Councils, said the ABC passed a resolution last March 20 asking the Department of Public Works and Highways to conduct feasibility study to put up dikes upstream of Butuanon and Mahiga Rivers.

At least seven barangays in Mandaue City have been identified as flood-prone. These are Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-Alang, Guizo and Paknaan.

The city’s drainage master plan also identified 54 flood-prone areas, 32 of which are major roads including A.S. Fortuna St., Hernan Cortes St., M.C. Briones and national highways in Subangdaku.

Since the two major rivers pass through Mandaue, the city easily gets flooded during heavy rains.

"Gabion dam is fast, easy and cheap to build," Manatad said, adding that these will be used to control and collect water.

Sixth District Representative Jonas Cortes supports the move to put up gabion dams.

“To me I believe nga ang gikinahanglan is gabion dams. Mini dams nga una, makontrol nimo ang tubig. The good thing about setting up the mini dams makontrol nimo ang flood flow instead of uwan diretso sa Mactan Channel, imong i-store ang tubig. By doing so, makontrol nimo ang baha at the same time nakatabang ka sa pag-replenish sa water source nato,” Cortes said.

Cortes, who was mayor of Mandaue for three terms, said most of the barangays in the city are low-lying which has become the catch basin of flood water from Cebu City.

“I think close to 11 barangays in Mandaue (are) recipient sa tubig baha from Cebu kay low-lying man ang Mandaue. Recipient ta sa tubig like sa Subangdaku, Tipolo, from Cabancalan and Banilad, tubig na from Cebu City. Maong gikinahanglan nga we need to dissect kung unsa man gyud ang problema,” Cortes said. —/FPL (FREEMAN)