Elements of Hernan Cortes are flooded throughout a heavy downpour on July 16. | Mun Nillas
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The rising flood disaster in Metro Cebu is not only about clogged waterways, however a few metropolis choking by itself unchecked progress.
“We’re so congested that we’re virtually in a state of self-destruction,” impartial structural integrity engineer Carlo Jaca warned as Metro Cebu reeled as soon as once more from knee-deep floods triggered by heavy rains final week.
READ: Cebu Metropolis to faucet P15M calamity fund for pressing river desilting
This sobering evaluation got here throughout a information discussion board on Wednesday, July 23, the place he pointed to poor city planning, vanishing open areas, and uncared for flood mitigation programs because the underlying causes of Metro Cebu’s worsening inundation woes.
“Urbanization is the primary issue. We’ve exceeded the brink,” Jaca mentioned. “The pure movement of water has been disrupted. Open areas have disappeared… All the pieces’s concrete. There’s nowhere for the rain to go.”
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No room for water
On July 16, an hour-long downpour submerged components of Cebu Metropolis, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu in floodwaters, leaving commuters stranded and roads impassable. Areas like Kinasang-an in Pardo, Cebu Metropolis, and A.S. Fortuna Road in Mandaue Metropolis have been among the many hardest hit.
In accordance with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Providers Administration (Pagasa), the floods have been brought on by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
However consultants say the larger perpetrator is man-made, and that’s the area’s incapability to soak up or handle rainfall because of inadequate drainage programs and concrete congestion.
“Even with new processes in place, we’re nonetheless flooded. The answer is correct underneath our noses. However there’s very poor planning,” Jaca mentioned.
READ: VIDEOS: Flooding in components of Cebu after heavy downpour on July 16
He cited the instance of Bonifacio International Metropolis in Taguig, which makes use of large-scale underground retention tanks to briefly maintain stormwater throughout heavy rains.
“What if each barangay had one? We’re speculated to have designated open areas by regulation, however most of these are gone or have been developed,” he mentioned. “We might construct multi-functional public areas with huge retention tanks beneath.”
Barangays should step up
Jaca emphasised the pivotal function barangays should play in flood prevention.
“Barangay captains can audit out there open areas and suggest sustainable options,” he mentioned. “They’re those who’ve government and legislative powers on the grassroots. But yearly, once they submit improvement plans, they ask just for basketball courts. No water administration programs.”
He added that public lands might and needs to be transformed into rainwater catchment programs to assist cut back floor runoff and ease stress on drainage networks.
“Solely 20 to 30 p.c of rainwater is absorbed by soil. The remaining simply flows into the streets,” Jaca defined. “Buildings are required to have rainwater tanks—however enforcement is one other difficulty. Many builders even cheat on the 30 p.c inexperienced house requirement.”
Structural dangers rising
Jaca famous that some builders have been leveling hills and constructing high-rises in areas the place the soil and water discharge programs weren’t appropriate, with out public hearings or long-term sustainability research.
“They lower down mountains even when the structural integrity is questionable,” he mentioned.
He added that the present flood management measures, reminiscent of town’s desilting operations funded by its calamity price range, have been short-term “band-aid options.”
“I don’t suppose the problem is cash. Its implementation. And it’s political,” Jaca mentioned.
Metropolis declares calamity, unlocks funds
On July 22, the Cebu Metropolis Council declared a state of calamity, unlocking P15 million from town’s Fast Response Fund (QRF) to kickstart pressing desilting and declogging of main rivers and esteros.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, who proposed the declaration, mentioned the July 16 floods uncovered the extent of silt and waste buildup in waterways like Estero de Parian, MJ Cuenco River, and Tagunol.
Mayor Nestor Archival mentioned town was contemplating renting amphibious desilting gear for sooner response. He additionally reiterated the significance of slicing via bureaucratic delays to deal with catastrophe wants extra swiftly.
“We don’t have the gear but. That’s why we’re declaring a state of calamity — so we are able to act quick,” Archival mentioned.
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