A subdivision developer was reminded to work on the drainage system while Cebu City Hall’s demolition crews will be kept busy dismantling illegal structures as the rainy season shows no signs of letting up in the coming days.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the developer of Monterrazas de Cebu should do more than desilting sedimentation ponds within their site to retain floodwater and prevent it from flooding homes in barangays Guadalupe and Tisa.
Rama said water from the sedimentation ponds, if released, would need a water outlet.
He ordered Genvi Development Corp. to stop work on the Monterrazas de Cebu project unless flood mitigation measures are in place.
A quick response team comprised of personnel from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) were tasked to monitor compliance with the mayor’s order.
“I want someone to oversee everything because when there is no more rain, it is as if the urgency (for Genvi development to come up with a drainage system) ceases,” Rama said.
The Monterrazas de Cebu project, Rama said, used to affect only sitio Dakit.
Now runoff water is affecting seven other sitios in Guadalupe and eight more sitios in barangay Tisa.
“What is of primordial concern is the safety of our constituency,” the mayor said.
Cebu City Hall is also expediting the dismantling of illegal structures along the Mahiga Creek in barangay Mabolo.
The Squatters Prevention Encroachment and Elimination Division (Speed) said it removed 144 structures in the area to clear the waterways.
Noel Artes, demolition team head, said clearing operations now allow heavy equipment to dredge the creek, which serves as the outlet for water from barangays Banilad, Apas and Mabolo among others.
Clearing of illegal structures restored the three-meter easement in five sitios—San Isidro I and II, Magtalisay, back Pepsi and back APM—in barangay Mabolo.
“The residents have agreed to the clearing since they will also be affected,” Artes said.
Artes said their next target is the 30 families in sitio Lahing-Lahing located at the back of the Mabolo Sports Center.
He said their clearing operations have prevented the creek from overflowing.
He said they need to clear the mouth of the creek located in front of the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA).
Artes said several barangay officials requested his office that they be prioritized in the clearing and dredging operations.
Artes said about 31 families living under the Tagonol Bridge in Barangay Basak Pardo will also face demolition.
The order was already issued last July 10 but the residents asked that it be postponed several times.
Basak-Pardo Chief Dave Tumulak said the residents wanted to wait until their children finish schooling before relocating.
The demolition was scheduled yesterday but the rains prevented the Speed team from doing their job.
“The residents in the upper part of our barangay asked our office that they already be cleared since the outlet of the water from the upper part of the barangay could not be developed due to the shanties of these 31 families that are on the river,” he said.
Artes said the residents were offered relocation sites but some either to returned to their provinces or declined to live in the relocation sites.
He said some families dismantled their houses. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with Correspondent Edison delos Angeles