For the past few days, I have been trying to analyze the flooding problems confronting Metro Cebu, particularly Cebu City.
I remember that in the past few years, flooding was something that we would only see in Metro Manila. It wasn’t a concern of Metro Cebu residents. But lately, flooding has become part of our lives. It is with us now as much as we try to avoid it.
One time, it rained hard for less than an hour. I passed the Mabolo area and saw that some lowlying places were already under water. I could just imagine how it would look if it had rained longer.
There is no doubt that if it rains heavily today, many in the metropolis would worry and even be fearful that areas would get flooded and many commuters get stuck on the road with water entering even their houses, damaging valuable possessions.
The question that faces us is why is there massive flooding in Metro Cebu in parts that never experienced it before?
I think this is the price we have to pay for progress . Before we used to see vacant and uninhabited areas but today every available space in Cebu City is occupied, developed and cemented or asphalted.
Engineer Fortunato “Jun” Sanchez correctly observed that when it rains, rain water from the mountains in Cebu rushes down to the lowlands but because many spaces are covered in concrete or asphalt, rain water has nowhere to exit except in low lying areas.
Our rivers, where water find its way to the sea, don’t have the capacity to channel water because they are silted and occupied by informal settlers or establishments which have forgotten that rivers are beyond the commerce of man.
So I agree 100% with the move of the Cebu city government to clear all rivers of occupants including business establishments that have encroached on the waterways by building over them and constricting the flow of water.
I also agree with the city government’s move to trying once more to establish the important three-meter easements in the creeks and rivers. I am hoping that people and the city government would now be vigilant in guarding the waterways against further encroachment.
It’s unfortunate that many of these occupants demand relocation sites from the government when they know their continued stay is already illegal and endangers their own safety. Some stubbornly refuse to vacate as if they have a right over the rivers that they have illegally occupied.
If the city government is serious about solving street flooding, it needs political will to implement measures that mitigate urban flooding.
Remove all informal settlers occupying the waterways, including footbridges built there. Reclaim the three-meter easements. Put gabion dams in the mountain areas to slow down the flow of runoff water.
And, in cooperation with the national government and other affected local governments, put up a dam in the uplands.
I hope City Hall sees the study conducted by Eng. Jun Sanchez who belongs to the infrastructure committee of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordination Board (MCDCB), which spearheads the Mega Cebu 2050 vision..
Providing a long-term solution to flooding in Metro Cebu would be a great legacy our leaders can leave for us and the next generations.