Updated master plan ‘needed’ to address floods

The Cebu City Council wants the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to update the city’s drainage master plan.

In an approved resolution, Councilor Joel Garganera said they were informed that the City did not have an updated master plan.

“With the rapid upstream economic and infrastructure development of the city, an unprecedented scale building activity has reduced the capacity of the ground to absorb rainwater. Most of the rivers and waterways of the city have been obstructed due to open dumping of solid waste and lack of drainage and easement, which lead to flooding,” read portion of the resolution.

Garganera said it was important to have a master plan since flooding was a major problem.

“Everything we do are mere palliatives if we don’t have a master plan. We want to know if restoring our waterways is part of the plan of this administration. From the budget he (Mayor Tomas Osmeña) passed to us regarding rivers or creeks, it seems he doesn’t have the political will to do so. Floods are here to stay,” he said.

Impact

Garganera said the mayor was not serious in addressing the flooding problem.

“He’s been our mayor since 1988. Is this the kind of legacy he wants to be remembered by future generations, including the unborn? Floods affects everyone, from business, health, transportation to school kids,” the councilor said.

Garganera said flooding caused large-scale social consequences and its immediate impact included the loss of life, damage to property and deterioration of residents’ health due to water-borne diseases.

Osmeña earlier approved the creation of a task force that would take charge of flooding concerns and to ensure that all drainage systems were regularly maintained.

The Menos Baha Task Force is tasked to declog and desilt drainage systems, especially in floodprone areas; construct drainage systems; repair existing drainage lines and manholes; clean and deepen creeks; and spread an educational advocacy on proper waste disposal.

The task force is jointly supervised by the DEPW and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.