THE Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) has assured that it remains committed to the City’s war on flood (Gubat sa Baha) campaign which aims to balance immediate interventions with the long-term goal of reclaiming waterways and reducing the city’s vulnerability to floods.
CCDRRMO chief Aderson Comar said Task Force Gubat sa Baha (TFGB), first launched under former mayor Micheal Rama in 2022 and renamed during the administration of former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia in 2024, has not deactivated.
Rather, the TFGB has continued its priority to prevent widespread flooding in Cebu City, Comar said on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
He said the TFGB’s main task is the clearing and recovery of the three-meter easement zones along riverbanks and waterways.
Clarification
Comar’s clarification comes after City Councilor Harry Eran, during Tuesday’s regular session, called on Mayor Nestor Archival to reactivate the TFGB to address recurring flooding and illegal structures in the city’s waterways.
In a media forum, Comar talked about the recent approval of a P15 million calamity fund, earmarked for ongoing desilting and declogging operations.
The funds were made available after the City Council, last Tuesday, July 22, declared Cebu City under a state of calamity following massive flooding on July 16.
Metro Cebu experienced widespread flooding following the downpour resulting in several hours of traffic congestion.
Several families, particularly those living near waterways and rivers and those in low-lying areas, were evacuated after floodwater entered their homes.
To address the widespread flooding, Archival met with members of the Flood Management Council on July 22 to finalize clearing operations in Estero de Parian, as well as dredging activities along Colon Street and other areas across the city.
The immediate evacuation of residents near the river mouth of Estero de Parian due to the anticipated heavy rainfall was also discussed.
Funds for the improvement of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) pond located in Barangay Talamban for flood mitigation in the area were also earmarked. The proposed restructuring of the pond will be at no cost to the MCWD.
Priorities
Comar said the City Government’s topmost priority is the dredging and desilting of the city’s eight major rivers and waterways.
Clearing operations and easement recovery will be the second priority, he added.
Comar said progress on easement recovery has been slow, with only 54 out of over 100 identified sites recovered over the years.
“We have the list already of those establishments and structures that have to be cleared, the question is who will implement,” Comar said in Cebuano.
While the recovery remains a continuing project, he clarified that it is not the current administration’s top priority in addressing the immediate flooding concerns.
Meanwhile, the issue of relocating informal settlers living along riverbanks presents a significant challenge to the city’s flood control efforts.
Comar acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents who need to be relocated from high-risk areas.
Comar said the City’s policy of “no relocation, no clearing operations” remains in effect.
He pointed to problems associated with existing relocation sites in areas like Quiot Pardo and Lahug, including the return of residents back to their previous homes due to a lack of basic amenities such as a reliable water and electricity supply. / EHP