Monterrazas desilts creeks, dams to prevent flooding

CEBU, Philippines - So solve the flooding in lowland areas during heavy downpour, personnel of Monterrazas de Cebu have started desilting the creeks and dams constructed in strategic locations within the ongoing subdivision project in the hilly portions of Barangay Guadalupe.

Officials of Monterrazas assured Mayor Michael Rama that they will try their best to prevent water from the construction project to reach the lower areas and cause flooding. Monterrazas de Cebu is a high-end subdivision. Rama said the legal counsel of Monterrazas, Dindo Perez, responded to his call for a meeting with officials of Barangay Guadalupe. The mayor personally inspected the areas in Guadalupe that were flooded last Wednesday afternoon.

For his part, Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan said the barangay has detailed barangay tanods in areas that are easily flooded to monitor the water level.

“Kon motaas na gani ang tubig pugson na lang g’yud nato sila pagbiya sa ilang lugar ug dad-on nato dinhi sa Sports Complex aron dili sila mameligro,” Gacasan said.

Gacasan said there are three small creeks situated at sitios Dakit, Kamanggahan and Sampaguita that should be disilted to accommodate more water during heavy rains. The Monterrazas, through subdivision contractor Landco Pacific Corporation, recently constructed at least 12 dams that will serve as water detention pond.

Lanco officials earlier assured that the dam structure shall be regularly monitored or inspected for any damage caused by water surge, debris collision at dam wall and other physical damages.

“Kadtong pag-adto namo daghan g’yud kaayong mga lapok nga napundo sa dam. Angay g’yud kini nga habwaan kanunay sa lapok. Problema lang hinoon kay ang creek sa ubos na nga bahin nagkagamay mao nga molunop g’yud kon kusog ang baha,” Gacasan said.

Hundreds of houses in several sitios of Guadalupe and even in Labangon were flooded after the heavy rains last Wednesday.

According to Rama he is not against development, but the developer of a project should also see to it that their project will not cause any harm to the public.

The areas developed by the Landco covers about 210 hectares of the hillsides of sitio Banawa in Barangays Guadalupe, Labangon, Tisa, Punta Princesa and part of Sapangdaku. It will be sold at P10,000 to P15,000 per square meter once it will be fully developed. (FREEMAN)