Flooding in cities not good for Cebu’s investment climate

Aftermath of rain and flooding in the north reclamation area. (CDN PHOTO/DALE ISRAEL)

Thursday night’s heavy downpour that resulted in massive flooding and traffic jams in Metro Cebu should be taken as a challenge for officials to solve a lingering urban problem.

Several business leaders yesterday called on government to act quickly as constant flooding in key areas in the province would affect Cebu’s attractiveness to investors.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ma. Teresa Chan said officials should hold a “flood summit” and agree on a solution fast.

“This will have an impact on existing businesses and definitely will affect decisions of investors wanting to come and set up operations here. Flooding is everyone’s problem. It’s important to get our act together or risk having worst floods in the future,” she said.

Gerry Sta. Ana, Board of Investments governor and past CCCI president, said Cebu’s investment incentives board may consider giving incentives to private entities that undertake flood prevention and control measures.

Idle flood control projects

Cebu City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete said millions of pesos worth of local drainage projects in 2012 have not yet been unimplemented.

“Some of these projects only need approval from the city council. Some still have to be bidded out. Admittedly, we haven’t implemented projects from 2012,” he said.

He said the City Council sat on 12 drainage-related projects listed in the 2012 annual budget and 2012 Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

Mayor Michael Rama has asked the Council to authorize him to enter into contracts for the projects but questions were raised about the availability of funds.

MEGA CEBU

Technical solutions have already been defined, said Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph.

What is needed is funding and execution.

He said a well-researched anti-flood masterplan by the private sector was already prepared by the Mega Cebu infrastructure committee headed by Engr. Jun Sanchez.

This awaits final approval by Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, who has met several times with Mega Cebu representatives since last year.

“We need a flood stormwater management matter plan. We have been working on this with the DPWH since early 2013. Almost one year later they have not been able to come up with the terms of reference for the selection of consultants,” he said.

He said the causes of flooding have already been analyzed and are well known.

POLITICAL WILL

“What is needed is political will to implement the solutions and to address the actual sources of flooding,” which include removing illegal settlers and buildings from riverbanks and creeks.

Sought for comment, Mayor Rama agreed that an integrated approach is needed.

“The flooding didn’t just happen in Cebu City. It also happened in Mandaue, Talisay, therefore there should be an integrated drainage masterplan for Metro Cebu,” Rama said.

“With these heavy flooding the the city, I am optimistic that the councilors will have a change of heart, especially those councilors with conviction, and will approve our drainage projects,” Rama added.

These 2012 projects were set in the City Council’s agenda in May.

Projects remain hanging as city treasurer Diwa Cuevas still has to sit down for an executive session with the City Council budget and finance committee headed by Councilor Margot Osmena.

The executive session was set for September 5.

Osmena wanted Cuevas to explain how they intend to source funding for the drainage projects.

According to Poblete, these projects are part of the approved P100 million outlay for drainage projects in the 2012 annual budget.

The City Council only approved P100 million of a P500 million outlay proposed by the executive department.

City engineer Poblete said “radical solutions” are neeeded especially with the fast rise of buildings in the city, including structures that encroach on waterways.

He said the problem of drainage is not only infrastructure but also social and institutional.

Solving the drainage problem involves three Es – engineering, education, and enforcement of laws.

People need to stop throwing garbage and laws should be strictly enforced to protect waterways from getting clogged with trash.

“ It can’t be infrastructure alone,” Poblete said.

Not yet implemented

These drainage projects in the 2012 Cebu City annual budget have not yet been implemented:
Concrete lined canal with cover at sitios Sto. Nino and Nangka in barangay Luz (P727,889); rehabilitation of box type canal with movable inlet cover at sitios Nacua, Delos Reyes and Tugas in barangay Mambaling (P2 milion); construction of stone masonry slope protection at sitio Robles in barangay Pungol Sibugay (P703,226); construction of gabions and stone masonry at sitio Sandayong in barangay Buhisan (P1.5 million).

Other projects from the 2012 annual budget are: rehabilitation of concrete lined canal along Figueroa St. in barangay San Nicolas Proper (P588,841); construction of drainage system from Ceres to Tagunol Bridge in barangay Basak Pardo (P2.9 million); and rehabilitation of existing drainage system along Escano St. from Magallanes to sea in barangay Ermita (P1 million).

Several projects were endorsed by barangays and are charged to the 2012 AIP.

They include: phase one of construction of drainage system at barangay Kinasang-an (P1.2 million); completion of road concreting with drainage system along Lusaran-Paril in barangay Paril (P2.49 million); completion of road concreting with drainage system along Paril-Lusaran in Barangay Lusaran (P2.39 million); construction of stone masonry slope protection near the boundary of Toong-Pamutan in barangay Toong (P679,224); and rehabilitation of drainage system or desilting along Col. Cabreros St. in barangay Basak San Nicolas (P1.9 million).

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