City government to revisit water catchment in establishments, subdivisions

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government has urged developers to comply with the city’s rainwater catchment especially those older establishments and subdivisions that have not complied with such a requirement.

Councilor Jerry Guardo, technical infrastructure committee chairman in the City Council during the maiden broadcast of PPP (Pagtuki, Pagsusi, Pagsuta) program of Sugboanon Channel under the city government, said that establishments that were constructed before 2006 were not covered by the Water Conservation Ordinance yet.

The massive flooding recently in the City of Cebu has pushed concerned officials and departments to revisit developers and their projects.

Gaisano Country Mall in Banilad for one was found to have insufficient water tanks and the mall’s parking areas were totally paved and had no drainage outfall.

Guardo advised the operators of the mall to construct a bigger water tank and design their parking lot to make it more absorbent during rainfall.

Aside from the said mall, the city’s Public Information Office reported that Guardo also found that the Maria Luisa Estate Park, an exclusive subdivision in Banilad, had insufficient rainwater catchment due to its large land area.

“When they (Maria Luisa developers) applied for a subdivision project before the city, they probably started with 10 hectares. Their compliance in putting up rainwater catchments was probably enough for 10 hectares,” Guardo said.

“But now, as they continue to expand and acquire properties, their rainwater catchment compliance is no longer sufficient to accommodate the large volume of runoff water,” added Guardo.

Other subdivisions and establishments situated in the upland barangays here were also found to have insufficient rainwater catchments.

Residents of Sto. Niño Village in Banilda had reported to Guardo and other city officials that runoff water coming from upland subdivisions and nearby establishments caused the flooding that occurred in their subdivision.

“If only these upland subdivisions were compliant with the rainwater catchment requirement, it could have prevented the runoff water that had affected those living in the low-lying areas,” stressed Guardo.

Guardo said they are going to invite developers of old and new establishments in the city to determine if their rainwater catchment compliance is still sufficient.

Guardo is looking at collaborating with the Office of the Building Official on this matter.

“We will invite them, together with OBO, one by one. We will check and revisit their compliance with the rainwater catchment,” Guardo said.