Comar: Restore Sikatuna river

CEBU, Philippines — To address flooding on Cebu City’s Sikatuna and Bonifacio Streets, the river underneath the Sikatuna Bridge should be restored.

This is the suggestion of Cebu City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) Head and River Commander Aderson Comar as a way to finally address the constant flooding of the two streets every time there is rain.

He said that if the area beneath the 1920 bridge is returned to its original width, it would have a huge impact in reducing flooding at the bridge’s vicinity.

Comar believed that because the river has been turned into a just “kanal,” flooding always happens on Bonifacio and Sikatuna Streets.

In a survey conducted by the Task Force Gubat sa Baha, at least five business establishments and a residential structure has been found to have encroached not just on the three-meter easement but the identified original length of the supposed river.

Comar disclosed to The Freeman that one of those structures refused to accept the notice sent to them and even painted over the wall markings the task force made to demarcate the encroachment.

“Mao nang di na mawagtang ng baha diha sa Bonifacio kay kana siya diha, naay tulay diha 1920 pa. Karon ang mga establishments…nilapas sa poste sa tulay,” he said.

“Naay tulo ka poste anang tulay…pirmerong poste, nilapas sila, and tunga nga poste mao nang naay tatak na 1920...Dagko nga establishment ang nakalapas,” he added.

He said water from the Jakosalem Street area would go to Sikatuna Street everytime there is a heavy downpour, resulting to flooding.

“Sa una, river man gyud na kay nganong naa may tulay. Unya mikipot na. Unya kung ari kas Ibarra corner Bonifacio, naay tulay diha nga ang tunga nga poste nabilin ang isigka daplin gitukora’g building,” Comar said.

“Nigamay ang sapa, maong nahimo na siyang kanal. Mao ning parehas sa giingong Mayor Mike sa una, nga ang suba nahimo nang kanal, ang nabilin one meter na lang,” he added.

He said long-time residents of the area can attest to this.

Comar said the channel of the water has also become so silted so that when there is rain, there is also flooding in the area.

“Mao ng di na masulbad nang baha diha,” he said.

Comar said, he is set to issue another notice to the identified establishments that have violated the Water Code of the Philippines, which sets that there should be no structures within three meters from each side of a waterway in an urban area.

He said he is hoping other concerned City Hall departments will do their part and go after these violators.

He mentioned the Office of the Building Official and the City Assessor's Office as among the offices he expected would look into those structures as well.

“Tutukan ko na…nganong ang suba nahimo nang kanal; mao ng di na masulbad baha diha ba,” he said. — (FREEMAN)