POOR urban planning and lax enforcement of regulations have caused Metro Cebu’s recurring floods, an independent structural integrity expert said.
Carlo Jaca, a Cebu-based engineer and a specialist in disaster-resilient infrastructure, said desilting and declogging efforts along Cebu City’s rivers and waterways are temporary "band-aid" solutions, not long-term fixes.
On July 16, 2025, Metro Cebu faced widespread flooding after heavy rainfall, leading to flooded roads and severe traffic congestion. Several families, particularly those near waterways and in low-lying areas, were evacuated after floodwater entered their homes.
Jaca spoke at a Cebu Press Club news forum on Wednesday, July 23, joined by Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Anderson Coma, Talisay CDRRMO head Alvin Santillana and Lapu-Lapu CDRRMO head Nagiel Bañacia.
Jaca urged local government units (LGUs) to prioritize urban planning to reduce flood damage. He said rapid urbanization has disrupted the natural flow of water, making Metro Cebu vulnerable during heavy rain.
He emphasized the critical role of barangay councils in flood mitigation and called for identifying spaces for water and rainwater catchment and impounding facilities.
These facilities, if built in every barangay, would store rainwater to prevent flooding on roads and in residential areas while providing additional water sources to address Metro Cebu’s water supply crisis.
Jaca noted that barangay councils often prioritize constructing covered courts over water management infrastructure.
He recommended that LGUs enforce or pass ordinances mandating impounding facilities in open areas, citing Bonifacio Global City’s half-kilometer retention tanks as a model for Cebu.
Reflecting on his youth, Jaca recalled that Metro Cebu had fewer developments compared to today.
The metro is composed of the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu; component cities of Danao, Talisay, Naga and Carcar; and municipalities of Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cordova, Minglanilla and San Fernando.
Jaca cited the lack of proper implementation of urban plans, particularly in designating agricultural, commercial, and residential areas, noting that some administrations neglect this due to lack of public appeal.
He further said that some developers bypass urban planning regulations to prioritize profit, covering rivers and creeks and failing to provide required open spaces, which contributes to flooding.
He also called for revising Metro Cebu’s drainage master plan, as many outfalls and catch basins are undersized or blocked by informal settlements, road-widening projects, or unregulated development. / EHP