‘Subdivisions should have water catchments’
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 wants subdivisions and other development projects to have water catchments and cisterns to ease floods in Metro Cebu.
Speaking in a forum on the need for balanced develoment amid climate change, last Tuesday DENR 7 spokesman Eddie Llamedo said the construction of water catchments and cisterns should be made one of the requirements before an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is given for the projects.
An Engineering Geological and Geohazard Assessment Report (EGGAR) should be integrated into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System which is required under Presidential Decree No. 1586, Llamedo added.
“An EGGAR shall be considered a basic requirement especially for development projects located in areas prone to landslides and flooding, and those near faultlines and volcanoes,” Llamedo said during the forum at the Marcelo Fernan Cebu Press Center.
He said a DENR department order 2000-28 requires engineering, geological and geohazard assessment for ECC applications covering subdivision, housing, and other land development and infrastructure projects.
In light of heavy flooding last Sept. 18, the DENR encouraged the use of small water impounding dams to address the “new normal” of stronger storms and heavier rain.
At the same time the stored water could be used for irrigation, urban gardens and domestic chores.
The call was supported by Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Ernie Delco, who also spoke at the forum, one of the activities of Cebu Press Freedom Week.
“Rather than letting rainwater go to waste or cause floods, it can be harvested and be used for household tasks like flushing toilets or watering plant. It can also lower your water bills,” Delco told reporters.
Delco said siltation of catchments or water impounding dams can reduce their capacity so regular desilting is needed.
The MCWD official said the water district is gradually shifting to surface water sources which is more sustainable knowing that Cebu’s aquifers are slowly being depleted and not replenished.
Based on the geohazards assessment of the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, five barangays in Cebu City are considered most hazardous to flooding.
These are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo and Bonbon.
Areas in downtown Cebu City are also included as well as areas along the Guadalupe River.
In Mandaue City, seven barangays are most prone to flooding.
These are barangays Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo and Pakna-an.
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