Can we prevent floods?

We have seen that floods have risen to unprecedented levels. Years ago, there were parts of the city that remained relatively dry during heavy rains but presently, flashfloods rush to living rooms there. Yes, today many city streets get inundated even just after brief rainfalls, although the volume of the recent rains has also been significantly heavy.

My lady, Carmen, was horrified by what she saw last Friday afternoon. She was minding her computer business when it rained. In about 10 minutes or so, Junquera Street became Junquera River. Her father built that structure at the corner of Junquera and P. Del Rosario Streets to house their business, Oriental Book Store, more than three decades ago. He made it sure the ground floor was at least two feet higher than the road so after unusually heavy rains, the water would never wet their merchandise. The height of the streaming water last Friday almost leveled with the floor of Carmen’s computer shop. In fact, the crest of the wake produced each time vehicles negotiated the Junquera River would lap over the sidewalk of Carmen’s building. To her, the sight was unbearably threatening.

When we talked about it over breakfast yesterday, one of our children blamed flashfloods on climate change. While environment experts tell us man’s abuse of nature is the main culprit of the harshness of climactic change, my family members are one in saying the government must set policies to mitigate, if not prevent, the effects of environmental catastrophes.

Unfortunately, the administration of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is saddled only with issues that have nothing to do with addressing flashfloods. His policy direction seems to be flawed. It looks like his focus is not for public weal. Pray tell me, what is the link between his trying to rescind the sale of portions of the South Road Properties to corporations with the overflow of the Mahiga Creek? How can his attempt to close a bank help prevent the conversion of Colon Street into a deep waterway?

Dredging natural waterways is the fastest way to help solve recurring floods. It does not need rocket science to understand that with our riverbeds and esteros being heavily silted, water overflows the banks. If we remove these alluvial deposits, we increase their capacity to absorb water. Progress attracts migrants from nearby islands. With no homes to call their own, they look for vacant spaces to build houses on. More often than not, these areas are riverbanks. They compose the majority of informal settlers. When they erect structures in such spaces they not only violate certain laws, they also impede even more the flow of water and, in effect, cause flashfloods.

Removing these man-made obstructions is the next quick solution to floods. The mayor will not be of the lesser intellect compared to his immediate predecessor if he adopts the latter’s program of clearing the riverbanks of illegal structures. As we witnessed then, with waterways freed of impediments, overflowing water was reduced. He might initially lose the votes of families affected by demolitions but the greater portion of his constituency will appreciate decreased flooding.

I am certain the mayor has better ideas. But the two I have proposed above, while modest and probably inferior, are without doubt helpful and necessary.