IN light of the recent string of flooding occurrences in Metro Cebu, it was high time for the governments of Cebu City and Mandaue City to construct a mini-dam and other flood-mitigating infrastructure along the Butuanon River.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes made this statement during a press conference on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the Maayo Hotel in Mandaue City, following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by the two local government units (LGUs) on Wednesday.
The MOA, which was signed by Cortes and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, stipulates that the two LGUs will jointly undertake the rehabilitation efforts of Butuanon River, which falls under the jurisdiction of both cities.
“That’s long overdue. Cebuanos have kept on complaining on the lack of water. Unfortunately we have a lot of opportunities og manguha og tubig diha sa atung bukid (but) wala ta’y gibuhat nga measures (if we get water from the mountains but we do nothing),” Cortes said.
Because we can slow the flood water down by gabion or tiny dams, it will be controlled so that it doesn't reach Mandaue immediately. Furthermore, the water (in the dams) can be used.
Because we can slow the flood water down with gabion dams or small dams, it will manage flood water so that it won't directly flow towards Mandaue. Additionally, the water (in the dams) can be put to good use.
“By building (mini) dams, (or) gabion dams it is like hitting two birds with one stone. It will control the flood water nga dili lang modiretso og baha diri sa Mandaue kay atung mapugngan og hinay-hinay kay naay gabion dams or mini dams gyud. Unya magamit ang tubig (so that it won’t directly flow towards Mandaue because we can slow the flood water down by gabion dams or mini dams. Furthermore, the water (in the dams) can be utilized) and at the same time it will replenish our aquifers,” he added.
The official said that the Butuanon River's watershed, or source, came from the mountainous barangay in Cebu City, and this was the same case for Talisay City's Mananga River.
Cortes emphasized that they had no control over the discharge of water from the city proper into the sea during heavy rains, thus a formal collaboration between the two neighboring LGUs was established to address the problem.
He added they could no longer wait for the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), whose mandate includes building dams and other infrastructure projects on the said waterway, to resolve the issue as this has been long overdue.
According to him, this move will also solve the problem on saltwater intrusion that could affect Metro Cebu's underground water sources.
He added that the main cause of the saltwater intrusion was excessive aquifer extraction without any safeguards against its effects.
“Daku kaayo og tabang, potential nga atu lang gi-usikan. Primary nga na-usik nato kay ang tubig ang grasya nga gikan sa taas, imbes magamit nato ig-uwan kay diretso didto sa Mactan Channel,” Cortes said.
(It is of great help, a potential that is just wasted. The main thing we waste is water, which is a gift from above; when it rains, it goes straight into the Mactan Channel rather than being utilized). (EHP)