City government to clear 26 structures in Mambaling

CEBU, Philippines — At least 26 identified structures will be affected by a drainage construction project of the Cebu City Government as part of the measures to address the flooding concerns in the Mambaling area.

This information came from the privilege speech of Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure of the City Council, during the regular session last Wednesday.

The council then approved Guardo's  resolution to fast-track the release of the financial assistance to these 26 affected structure owners and to request the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to prepare the program of works and estimates (POWE) for the construction of the drainage system, rehabilitation of the existing creek, and re-designing of the area.

Guardo presented what he saw as one of the solutions to address the perennial flooding problem in Sitio Naba and Sitio Wangyog in Alaska Mambaling, particularly in front of the area’s elementary school.

Guardo conducted an inspection in the area together with the barangay officials to assess the extent of the drainage problem.

“During the inspection, we saw piles of garbage and a stagnant creek, a clogged drainage system, which caused water from the canal to backflow and overflow, resulting in flooding,” said Guardo.

Guardo further said that the flooding concerns in the area have long been “overdue,” adding that  it required assistance from the city government.

During the same inspection, Guardo found out that one of the factors that contributed to the flooding was the household dwellings blocking the natural waterway systems.

Initially, Guardo identified  26 structures that will be subjected to clearance work. According to him, the accumulated garbage can be cleared using the City's owned equipment once the structures are removed.

These structures were identified by the Division of Welfare and Urban Poor (DWUP), the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), and the Cebu City Risk Reduction and Management Council, which was submitted in its incident report.

“Maglisod man atong mga equipment og collect sa basura, unya inig backflow mao ng muabot sa elementary,” said Guardo.

He added that once a heavy downpour occurs, the entire Alaska Mambaling area is flooded.

Guardo said that during a public consultation held recently, all 26 families that will be affected by the clearing operations assured to voluntarily clear their structures once they receive financial assistance from the Cebu City Government, hence the approval of Guardo's proposed resolution.

Once the structures are cleared, Guardo said this will allow the desilting equipment to pass through.

Guardo also clarified that a relocation site has already been identified to transfer the affected families, as confirmed by the barangay.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera told Guardo to widen his inspections in the area and also checked the outlet. She added that the channel between the South Road Properties (SRP) and the mainland area already has many structures and stilt houses.

"In fact, these stilt houses have only a gap of about three meters from the SRP... Supposed to be, the gap between the SRP and the mainland should not even be less than 50 meters, and it’s so silted there," said Pesquera. (CEBU NEWS)