THE Cebu City Council has urged the city’s congressional representatives to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH 7) and push forward the planned mini dam projects as part of a national initiative.
Councilor James Anthony Cuenco issued the appeal following Councilor Jerry Guardo’s privilege speech on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
“This will have been a national project, so it is imperative that the incumbent congressmen of Cebu City be on board with this,” said Cuenco.
The request stemmed from Councilor Nestor Archival’s City Ordinance 2749 or the Gabion Water Dam Ordinance of Cebu City.
Guardo, who heads the infrastructure committee, requested the DPWH 7 to conduct feasibility studies and a detailed engineering design for the construction of mini dams in Barangays Malubog, Bulacao, Budlaan, and Poblacion, Pardo.
Guardo also requested the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to prepare the program of works and estimate for the enhancement of the existing water impounding facility in Family Park, Barangay Talamban to enhance the facility from 2,000 square meters (sqm) to 6,200 sqm.
However, Councilor Philip Zafra expressed his concern that the DEPW might not have the technical capacity to do Guardo’s request.
He recalled that two years ago, the City Council allocated P20 million for gabion or mini dams to be constructed within the city.
“But sad to say, the DEPW was unable to do that,” said Zafra adding that this only resulted to the return of the budget allocation to the general fund.
“The Council has done everything within our authority to help address these concerns, but there are limitations from among the departments concerned especially the DEPW,” said Zafra.
Copies of the resolution were sent to the Office of the Mayor, DPWH 7, DPWH District Engineering Office, DEPW, City Planning, Flood Mitigation Board, and to the Metropolitan of Cebu Water District (MCWD).
The topic on gabion dams was highly talked about in August 2024, when Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia requested the DPWH and the National Irrigation Administration for financial assistance in building the mini dams.
The mayor previously said on Aug. 12, 2024 that the current challenges were planning and budget availability.
On Aug. 7, Archival pushed for the creation of a technical working group that will research, design, build and establish gabion dams.
Archival said it would now be the executive department’s responsibility to execute the provisions of the ordinance.
Gabion dams
Guardo said the typical size of a mini dam would usually range between 10 to 40 meters in height just like the one built in Barangay Buhisan.
“Mini dams help regulate the flow of water downstream, thereby reducing flooding. If treated, it can also provide additional water supply to MCWD, improve our groundwater recharging and minimize siltation of waterways downstream,” explained Guardo.
The dam eyed in Butuanon River, Barangay Malubog, would be a catchment area of 2,101 hectares that can hold 1.6 meters of rainwater.
“This dam can accommodate 1,850,000 cubic meters of water annually, averaging a daily yield of 5,000 cubic per day with a recommended height of 33 meters for a dam,” explained Guardo.
For Bulacao River in Barangay Toong, the dam would be a catchment area of 4.2 hectares what can hold 1.6 meters of water per year and generate an average of 451,000 cubic meters of water per year.
Meanwhile, three possible areas along Budlaan River are being eyed as water impounding facility.
“Once these mini-dams, gabion dams and detention pond will be constructed for the short term and long term plan in different locations, these will help mitigate recurrence of flooding in frequently flooded areas in different barangays and help address shortage of water supply from MCWD,” said Guardo. / JPS