Impounding lagoons seen to solve flooding

Building water impounding lagoons is one of the solutions the Cebu City Disaster Council has suggested to address the flooding problem in the city.

Councilor Jerry Guardo said the excess water flooding the streets of the city during heavy downpours can be put to good use if proper facilities are built to store it. He said CCDC chairman Gerardo Carillo suggested building impounding lagoons where the city can store floodwaters and address the flooding at the same time.

“We are really here to find a long-term solution, not just a band-aid solution… So comprehensive gyud kibale nga approach and there are a lot of ways that we can reduce flooding and make use of this excess water,” Guardo told The Freeman.

“During drought or dry season magproblema pud ta sa scarcity sa water, but during downpour sa rain magproblema sad ta’g baha, so ang challenge diha is how to make use of this kuan mga water run-off…These are blessings, but wala gyud nato na utilized,” Guardo added.

Impounding lagoons similar to the one in Lusaran is seen to address the flooding problem aside from conducting regular clearing the waterways.

“This will be done para maka-store og water and in return maka supply pa ta’g water sa MCWD...That one in Lusuran, maka produce na’g 15 million liters of water a day,” said Guardo.

The city government has identified Barangays Budlaan, Pulangbato, Guadalupe, Kalunasan, Bulacao, and Bonbon as possible sites for the construction of impounding lagoons.

“Instead na moadto siya sa sapa nga maka cause og baha, ma-utlize pa nato siya para pag-address sa shortness sa water supply sa MCWD through this impounding pond/lagoon,” Guardo said.

The city government is also looking at applying the technology used by J.E. Hydro, MCWD’s contractor, in its impounding lagoon in Lusaran.

“Naay gipakita nga technology ang J.E. Hydro sa amoa nga maski kanang lapok, parehas anang sa sapa nga brown na kaayo, pwede na ma process nila mahimo na nga potable, mainom na na sila,” said Guardo.

The city government is also eyeing the strict implementation of City Ordinance 2103 requiring developers of condominiums, arcades, subdivision, and townhouses to build rainwater tanks within their project as part of the city’s comprehensive drainage master plan.

With declogging and desilting no longer sufficient to prevent floods, the city government is revisiting the drainage system for possible upgrading.

“Some of the existing drainage and canals are no longer adequate. Karon, amo na pud ning giingnan ang mga contractors na i-dagko na daan, i-exaggerate na,” said Guardo.

Guardo’s team has also checked on the gabion dams before to see if these are still working. —