Monterazzas engages communities in flood management, enlists expert
The developer of an upscale subdivision in Cebu City is assuring barangays that they have developed enough flood control mechanisms to protect communities below their project.
And they have enlisted an expert in disaster risk reduction (DRR) to address flood hazards in the communities hosting their projects.
Although denying they were the cause of massive flooding that displaced close to 200 families in barangay Guadalupe in 2011, Genvu Development Corp. president Dindo Perez said their company has spend over P50 million for flood control.
“Sustainability is in the heart of what we do. Alfredo will be the face of our sustainability,” said Perez, as he introduced the former mayor of San Francisco, Camotes Island Alfredo Arquillano, Jr.
Arquillano has been recognized for his work in empowering local communities on reducing disaster risks (DRR) and climate change adaptation in San Francisco town. He was awarded by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2010.
The subdivision has 14 retention ponds worth over P50 million. Perez said these ponds, which have a combined capacity of approximately 28,000 cubic meters of water, were already in place even before they started construction in the area in 2007.
The ponds are designed to collect rainwater to avoid flooding in the communities below. The collected rainwater is desilted and gradually released after rains to avoid impact on the city’s drainage system.
Perez said they are planning a graywater system project for the ponds wherein the collected water will not just be collected and released. Instead, the water will be harvested for irrigation in the fields in the subdivision.
The subdivision also has soil erosion mechanisms which include coco-mats wherein coconut husks are used to cover slopes to prevent soil erosion. Vetiver grass, which has long roots, is also planted in slopes to hold top soil and prevent soil erosion.
“The retention ponds and coco-matting technology in Monterazzas are a first in Cebu. These are very helpful mechanisms,” said Arquillano.
The Genvi Development Corporation partnered with barangays Sapangdaku, Guadalupe, Buhisan and Tisa in an effort to make the barangays resilient to disasters, especially flooding and landslides.
“It’s all about education. We have to engage the community,” he said.
Arquillano was invited by Perez to present to the barangay officials how he was able to make San Francisco resilient to disasters.
“We can’t stop cities from growing but we should integrate DRRM in our plans,” he said.
He said that the challenge in promoting sustainable development is in how to engage the different sectors of the society. Engaging the private sector is also important because sustainable development is “everybody’s concern,” he added.
Puroks, are small units within a barangay to help in the implementation of development programs. It’s similar to sitios.
“Through the puroks, IEC (Information, Education and Communication) about DRRM can be efficiently relayed and thus will make them more aware,” Arquillano said.
The Monterrazas de Cebu is situated in barangay Guadalupe. Parts of their property are also located in barangays Sapangdaku, Buhisan and Tisa although they haven’t started work in the other three barangays.
Also present during the event was Sapangdaku barangay captain Lorna Damalerio, Guadalupe barangay captain Michael Gacasan, Buhisan barangay captain Ramil Rago and Tisa barangay captain Tita Cabulao.
