Archival: Review projects in flood-prone barangays

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered a review of development projects in flood-prone areas while advancing plans to build a rainwater reservoir and a waste processing facility in Barangay Labangon as part of the city's intensified flood mitigation efforts.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, days after massive flooding inundated parts of Tisa and Labangon, Archival said the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) has been directed to reassess upland developments and drainage outlets to determine whether certain projects contributed to the flooding.

“Ang agianan sa tubig gikan sa 6–10 feet, karon tulo na lang ka feet,” he explained, noting that garbage accumulation has further worsened the situation.

The mayor also stressed that older developments without catchment systems should be required to install them to help manage rainwater runoff. As part of the city's long-term flood control strategy, Archival disclosed that the city is considering acquiring a vacant lot in Labangon to serve as a reservoir. The proposed facility would temporarily store runoff from upland areas before gradually releasing it downstream during heavy rains.

Part of the property is also being eyed for a waste processing facility that would handle garbage from the barangays of Tisa, Labangon and Guadalupe, with the goal of preventing solid waste from clogging drainage channels and waterways.

Sitio Tambisan in Barangay Tisa was among the communities hardest hit by last week's flooding, with water levels reaching three to six feet and affecting around 400 residents.

Archival said emergency declogging operations have since restored water flow in the area but emphasized that flooding will continue unless upstream water storage facilities are established and regular clean-up operations are sustained.

The mayor also urged affected barangays to declare a state of calamity to enable the city government to extend financial assistance to affected residents.

He likewise directed concerned offices to revisit the city's 2017 Drainage Masterplan, noting that only about 70 percent of its 104 proposed flood control projects had been implemented, while several completed projects now require rehabilitation.

Among the city's immediate priorities include the desilting of the Kinalumsan River and the review of development guidelines for private developers.

The mayor's chief of staff, Kenneth Siasar, said desilting operations along Cebu City's eight major rivers have been underway for the past two months, although the work has slowed because of limited equipment.

Last Sunday, the Cebu City Government launched a Massive Bayanihan Declogging Operation involving the DEPW, Department of Public Services (DPS), Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), Cebu City Environment and Sanitation Enforcement Team (CESET), the Office of the Chief of Staff, barangay officials, emergency responders, volunteers and residents. — (FREEMAN)