South roads eyed as water basin site

ROADS in Cebu City’s south district are being considered as a temporary impounding and water catchment area to divert floodwater from urban barangays.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) started a survey to determine the location of the impounding areas and draw a cost estimate for possible funding in 2013.

“I chose this approach because Secretary (Rogelio) Singson also uses this approach. It’s his theory,” he said.

Osmeña said Singson helped design the Burgos Circle in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Metro Manila during his stint in the private sector.

He said the Burgos Circle is designed like a rotunda with a big hole in the middle that’s used as a water impound area.

Water from the circle is then discharged into the Manila Bay.

Osmeña said the Singson’s design proposed by Singson is a cheaper alternative to his earlier plan to convert some Cebu City roads into a mini river when it rains to accommodate floodwater before flushing this into sea.

Osmeña said they agreed on placing vertical box like culverts underneath some streets in Cebu City’s south district for use as temporary impounding area.

After the box like culverts are in place, roads can again be covered for vehicular traffic use, Osmeña said.

“Water will fill it up. If there’s an overflow it’s only small. When the rain stops, we can pump out the water into the sea,” he said.

Osmeña said the city has drainage systems especially in the up stream.

He said the problem is the inadequate capacity of water outlets in the downstream to accommodate water from uphill. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac