Gov, 3 mayors pledge to solve flooding

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes sign the commitment to jointly resolve flooding and drainage problems. Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes also signed.
(CDN Photo/Junjie Mendoza)

Three city mayors and Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday signed a declaration of commitment to implement projects aimed at resolving Metro Cebu’s flooding problems.

At least eight goals were listed, including reviving a 1995 Integrated Drainage Master Plan  made by experts of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The specific steps will require approval of the legislative  councils of each city and affected town.

Davide signed the declaration with  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes at the SM onference Hall.

“I’m grateful on behalf of the province. Flooding is not just a problem of Cebu City, or Mandaue City,  it’s a  problem of the province. And it’s not just the problem of local governments alone, we need the support of everyone,”  said Davide.

The agreement summed up output of an  inter-city drainage summit held in Nov. 5, 2014 at the Elizabeth Hotel.

The mayors and governor agreed to formulate and implement an integrated drainage master plan for the three cities and a feasibility study for a dam before the end of next year.

The officials also  agreed to form a  multi-sectoral task force to address flooding and drainage, and   the resettlement of indigent families who occupy rivers and waterways in violation of the three-meter easement law.

READ: ‘Metro Cebu Dev’t Authority needed’

There were general agreements to allocate funds for the protection, rehabilitation and preservation of  rivers and other vital bodies of water in Metro Cebu.

Stakeholders also pushed for the commitment of Cebu’s six legislators to lobby for funding of these projects in  congressional deliberations for next year’s budget.

Cebu  City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo, who presented the declaration statement,  said a more specific agreement to establish these goals in writing will soon be presented.

The impact of flooding cuts across  borders.

“What we have now is a  motherhood agreement. The specific agreements must have the approval of the councils of the three cities. We are just giving the general framework,” Castillo said.

Mayor delos Reyes of Talisay said every stakeholder in Metro Cebu should support the effort. Rama of Cebu City said these projects will benefit  the next generations of Cebu residents.

“We need the cooperation not only with the LGUs but also our congressmen. Let’s stop thinking of only ourselves. Let’s think of the bigger picture,” said Mayor Cortes of Mandaue.  /With Xavier University Intern Pearl Therese S. Aton