MANDAUE City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano on Friday, July 18, 2025, assured residents of Barangay Banilad that the City Government is actively addressing persistent flooding issues.
Ouano said the second phase of the City’s P51-million Flood Control Project is now underway in Sitio Orel, an area frequently affected by flash floods along A.S. Fortuna St.
The mayor personally inspected the ongoing works, stressing that while a complete overnight solution is not feasible, significant improvements are anticipated by next year.
The first phase of the project, a P12.7-million undertaking, has already been completed in the Rolling Hills area, where residents previously reported floodwaters rising to waist level within minutes of heavy rain.
Lilibeth Puebla, a 57-year-old resident in the area, urged the mayor to build a larger drainage system to prevent recurring floods, which force her to secure household items from being damaged or swept away.
Halfway completed
The current phase in Sitio Orel, which involves large underground drainage lines and enhanced outflow structures, has reached 50 percent completion and is slated for full operation by October or November this year.
According to Banilad Barangay Captain Greg Yab that in conjunction with the project, they will facilitate the relocation of 38 residents living near the waterway.
However, there is no definite schedule yet for the relocation, although it will still be within Banilad.
Gumer Castillo, district engineer of the DPWH Sixth Engineering Office, noted that the presence of informal settlers in waterways has been a challenge but acknowledged the City Government’s assistance in facilitating relocations to accelerate the project.
Once fully operational, the flood control system is expected to drastically improve flood response time, reducing water subsidence from 12 hours to just three to six hours.
It also aims to lessen the severity of flooding, with previous shoulder-high water levels projected to drop to knee-level.
Mayor Ouano underscored the importance of national and local government collaboration to expedite city projects. / with Allyssa Doncillo, HNU Intern; and Ashley Judd Alon, UV Intern