IN LIGHT of the recent floods in Cebu City, Task Force Gubat sa Baha chairperson Roy Cimatu wants to focus attention on strengthening and connecting existing drainage systems from residences, streets and highways, and commercial facilities down to the city's rivers and waterways.
Cimatu came up with this concept following the September 11, 2023 flooding disaster in a parking lot of a mall in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
He added that there might be a problem with the mall's drainage system because the rain had accumulated outside the establishment while the nearby river was dry.
“Nakita namin during sa aming mga inspections nga meron flooding dito sa area nga katabi sa river pero ang river walang tubig. So walang linya connecting sa flooded area at sa river. Eto ang aayusin natin,” Cimatu said in an episode of the Sugboanon Channel of Cebu City's People's Progressive Radio Media Network on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
(During our inspection, we discovered that the area near the river was flooded but the river itself was dry. So, there was no line connecting the flooded area and the river. We will fix this).
Cimatu said this was also the issue with other flood-prone areas in the city, where there was not enough drainage system going to the rivers or rainwater catchment facility to hold a high volume of water during heavy downpour.
As a result, the wastewater coming from the households and business establishments will discharge into the streets, instead of flowing into the river.
In order to solve this, Cimatu said that all businesses and houses must be required to connect their existing drainage systems to the city's waterways.
The city administration may designate a focal point to ensure strict adherence to the said effort through an executive order. (EHP)