Roberto Aboitiz (foreground) seeks the help of Cebu congressmen in pushing for a drainage master plan for Mega Cebu in a meeting at the Ramon Abboitiz Foundation Inc. He got support from Rep. Ace Durano (5th district), Cebu City’s Raul del Mar, Luigi Quisumbing (6th district) and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
With the rainy season about to start, urban flooding is a top-of-mind problem of Cebu government officials.
Cebu congressmen yesterday agreed to lobby together to get anti-flooding measures funded in the 2015 national budget as part of the vision of a liveable, competitive Mega Cebu.
This includes a proposal of Cebu City Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa to build a 700-meter underpass with underground cisterns in Natalio Bacalso Avenue along the intersection of F. Llamas Street to channel stormwater during a downpour, a first-of-its kind in the country.
“This is the best time for us take up these matters,” said Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City north district. We can do a lot during this time.”
He said Congress goes on break on June ll and reconvenes on July 28 for the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Right after that, the national legislature will start budget hearings.
Abellanosa said Cebu City would be the pilot area for a “smart underpass” and that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already prepared technical designs which need an initial P715 million for Phase 1.
The project was inspired by the “SMART Tunnel” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , a 9.7 kilometer tunnel which is used for both vehicles and a stormwater catchment that reduces traffic jams at rush hour.
Completed in 2013 at a cost of $514 million, it is the longest stormwater tunnel in Southeast Asia. SMART stands for “stormwater management and road tunnel.”
DRAINAGE PLAN
Businessman Roberto Aboitiz invited congressmen yesterday to listen to updates on the Mega Cebu plans of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) which he co-chairs.
He asked their help in pressing Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson to speed up a Metro Cebu Drainage and Stormwater Management Plan, which has already been two years in the making.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the plan were prepared by the Mega Cebu board and submitted to the DPWH for review. Singson’s last comment on June 2 was that the agency had to hire foreign consultants to evaluate it.
Expressing some frustration over the delay, Aboitiz said, “Our equity has been used up and we’ve gotten this far.” He asked the congressmen to do what they can to push the plan, which still needs funding by the national government.
“My colleagues will only be too happy to help. We can take it from here,” assured Del Mar.
He attended the meeting wth Abellanosa for Cebu City, Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas (1st district), Rep. Ace Durano (5th district) and Rep. Luigi Quisumbing (6th district.), Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado.
The Metro Cebu board covers 13 towns and cities, and the Province of Cebu with Gov. Hilardio Davide III as chairman.
The underpass on N. Bacalso Avenue was brought up by Abellanosa, who gave updates in the meeting yesterday.
“The first half of the project will be hopefully included in the budget for 2015. It’s very big, in fact it’s one of the biggest, projects in the city,” he said.
UNDERPASS
In its initial design, a 700-meter stretch in N. Bacalso Ave. will have six lanes. The underpass will occupy two lanes. Two lanes will be built on each sides.
During a heavy downpour, the underpass can be used for the passage of rainwater and captured in underground tanks.
“Most of the rainwater coming from Quiot, Punta Princesa goes down that area and causes flooding. In that area, it will be a solution,” Abellanosa said.
Underground concrete cisterns will be able to store the capacity of ten Olympic-size swimming pools to hold rainwater falling for a maximum of five hours, he said.
“During the dry season or when it’s needed, the water can be used as reserve for the fire department and watering plants. This is just one feature. It can also help improve the traffic there,” Abellanosa explained.
Abellanosa said DPWH consultants finished the feasibility study for the pilot project this year.
He said he approached Secretary Singson and volunteered Cebu City as a pilot after Singson explained how he solved the problem of flooding in Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila.
A five-story underground water impounding facility was built there by Singson when he was still in the private sector.
“So I wrote a letter to Secretary Singson recommending and requesting for a pilot project, similar to that in Fort Bonifacio, in my district. I thought why not use properties already public like roads,” Abellanosa said.
He then did more research and zeroed in on the SMART tunnel in Kuala Lumpur.