DESILTING of flood-prone areas in Cebu City, such as Estero de Parian and Kamputhaw River, is set to begin next week, assured Mayor Nestor Archival on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.
A total of P15 million has been allocated for equipment rentals after recent floods prompted the declaration of a state of calamity in the city on July 22.
The efforts will focus on the removal of debris and sewage along waterways to improve the flow of water, especially in times of heavy downpour.
Archival described desilting and declogging as the City’s “immediate” responses to the persistent flood problem.
The mayor explained that without desilting clogged areas, a combination of heavy rainfall and high tide near the coastline can lead to streets and properties being soaked in flood.
The mayor earlier visited A. Bonifacio St. in Barangay Parian and Sikatuna St. along Barangay Day-as last July 30 and July 31 to inspect ongoing declogging efforts in the two areas.
These streets have been known to flood as stagnant water accumulates even on days that have no rain.
“We prioritized areas where water accumulates at the side of the road even without rain,” said Archival in Cebuano.
He attributed the situation to the current level of stagnant water accumulating at the side of the streets that are higher than the level of nearby canals.
Archival said accumulated silts and solid waste have clogged the main drainage causing water to be left on the street.
“So we slowly took out the debris and dirt because the roads there are small and the river is also small,” said Archival.
Debris, silt and garbage were pumped out from the existing drainage in the area.
Archival said the nearby waterway that connects to Estero de Parian must also be desilted and dredged regularly to improve the water flow.
In a Facebook live post last July 30, Archival said plastic collected in the desilting and dredging efforts will be segregated and converted into fuel materials for the City’s asphalt-making projects.
He said the City’s desilting efforts will target the mouths of the city’s eight major rivers.
He also denied favoring allied barangays in project approvals. / EHP