DPWH-7 reviews flood control measures

THE massive flooding of several areas across Metro Cebu over the weekend has prompted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 to include Saturday’s inundation in a review of a 1995 feasibility study on drainage and flood control measures for Metro Cebu.

“The output of this project, whose analysis will include the date of yesterday’s (Saturday) flooding, will spell out the counter measures for all major flooding areas in the metropolis,” said DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas.

The study, which began last April, aims to update the 1995 drainage master plan for Metro Cebu and will also look at other aspects of addressing floods, Canlas said.

But while the study is still underway, some flood control projects in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue will be implemented by the DPWH’s Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) by 2017, depending on how fast the local government units can clear the road right of way limits of the projects, Canlas added.

Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2015, there are five major flood control projects focused on four rivers and creeks in Cebu City and the Tipolo River in Mandaue City, Canlas said.

The preliminary detailed engineering works for the projects are still ongoing.

“Definitely, with the completion of these projects, the flooding problems in Cebu City and Mandaue City will be reduced significantly particularly within the area of influence of the said projects,” Canlas assured.

But even with these in place, Canlas appealed for the cooperation of the public especially in making sure that drainage lines are not clogged with garbage.

“I’m appealing to everybody, all of us will have a contribution. Kahit anong gawin naming flood control (No matter what we do for flood control) , if people won’t cooperate and keep throwing garbage anywhere, it will clog our drainage. We cannot control that,” he said.

Private establishments and subdivisions also contribute to the clogging of drainage lines, according to Canlas as drainage systems constructed by the DPWH are designed to capture the runoff water from other lines and not as a septage system for establishments.

Encroachments on waterways, like in Mahiga Creek and in Subangdaku, also contribute to the floods, he said.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña does not believe that the drainage problems in Cebu City are related to problems in its neighboring areas.
Osmeña said that he will review the city’s list of drainage projects which have remained unimplemented together with a P1.5 billion budget earmarked for the projects.

Former Cebu City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete earlier said that his office had decided not to touch the budget as the city awaited the completion of an updated comprehensive drainage master plan for the entire Metro Cebu.

“That’s bu—–t. The drainage in Cebu City is completely unrelated to the drainage in Liloan, Compostela, Mandaue (except Mahiga), Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Talisay and even SRP (which is an island). My problem is how to relate with idiots who think they know it all,” Osmeña said in a text message to CDN.

Osmeña said that he will push through with a P900-million water impounding project along N. Bacalso Ave.

“(South District Congressman Rodrigo) Abellanosa and I worked with my old classmate, DPWH Sec. Singson who funded it before the end of his term. It will be implemented early next year,” he said while claiming that the implementation of the plan was “blocked” by former mayor Michael Rama.