How do we solve the flooding problem in Cebu?

Manila— Last Tuesday afternoon, I decided to leave the house earlier than usual to take my PAL flight to Manila to attend the SKAL International Awards. My flight was scheduled to depart Mactan at 5:40 p.m., but I have always thought that it was better to be at the airport early rather than miss the plane. So far, my track record is… I never ever missed a flight.

But around 2:00 p.m., it already started to rain hard… and the rains didn’t let up by the time we left the house at 3:15 p.m. Passing through Escario St., traffic was already heavy and so we tried to turn around avoiding the flyover in Ayala Center and ended up along Juan Luna Ave. and got stuck beside the Carmelites Church where traffic was at a standstill. Later I was able to turn left towards the small streets of Mabolo and out to MJ Cuenco Ave. only to find out that the street has turned into a raging river.

Thank goodness, we used our 4x4 pickup so the floodwaters weren’t much of a problem for us. But instead of turning left towards Mandaue, we decided to take the route towards SM City only to get caught in one of the worse traffic snarls that I have ever encountered in Cebu City. We were beside Radisson Blu around 4:30p.m. and vehicles were not moving at all. Good thing, our group was already at the airport and already got our boarding cards. But I thought… that if the traffic snarled all the way to Mandaue City, we’d truly miss our flight.

With our 4x4, we were able to drive on the most flooded areas, where cars fear to tread. We finally got into Mandaue Reclamation around 5:15 p.m., and thought that the plane was already boarding. Luckily, the main road along Mandaue City going to the airport wasn’t flooded and traffic was a breeze. We got into Mactan Airport by 5:30 p.m. and we were one of the last to board. The PAL Airbus was on time, but unfortunately, I learned that at least some 40 passengers missed their flight.

I pride myself in knowing much about the traffic in Cebu City, I could turn to smaller roads that few motorists pass and veer away from traffic jams. But last Tuesday was exceptional. It gives you an idea that quite possibly, the North Reclamation Area is either sinking or the amount of rain that poured into Cebu City last Tuesday must have been record breaking.

As of this writing, I don’t know if the floods caused any casualties. While I only passed through SM City on my way to the airport. But I know that the traditional places that gets usually flood were hit just as bad last Tuesday. Colon St., V. Gullas St., and parts of Parian were all under water. We know this to be Cebu’s problem… but the saddest part of all is that, so little money is poured into cleaning up our esteros or constructing huge drainage pipes. Since it’s an election year… let’s hear it from the politicians what are their respective solutions to solve Cebu City’s drainage problems?

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If there is anything that was totally unexpected with the appointment of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, it is that her associate justices are obviously not fond of her…given that highly public snub that they gave the new Chief Justice during her very first flag ceremony last Monday. Could it be that they were sore that CJ Sereno leapfrogged all of five senior associate justices? In her speech, CJ Sereno said, “This is neither the work of man nor of any political bloc. This is not a product of lobbying from business or economic interests, but by God who knows all the plan of our nation.” So it was not Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III who appointed her?

All the while I thought that CJ Sereno would be silent before the media… but apparently, she is talking her head off. She may think otherwise, but surely the Judicial & Bar Council (JBC) knows the pressures that they were all subjected to have her placed in the shortlist, even if she failed her psychology test. Incidentally, the JBC is investigating the alleged “leak” of CJ Sereno’s psychological examination.

Wait-a-minute! That story was out a couple of Mondays ago… and no one said that it was a leak? But now that CJ Sereno has been appointed by the President… now that report is considered leak? Leak or not… the whole nation now knows that we have a Chief Justice who failed her psychology examinations. So it is up to the JBC to tell us the whole truth about this.

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THE BLACKBOX:

I was in Manila to attend the SKAL International Awards for business leaders who contributed immensely to the growth of Philippine Tourism. Notable amongst these awardees are, Dr. Manuel V. Pangilinan of Metro Pacific Group, Dr. Andrew Tan Executive Officer of Empire East Land Holdings and CEO of Megaworld Land, Inc. and Henry Sy, CEO of SM Development Corp. and National Grid Corp. and Sir Miguel Belmonte, Pres. of Philippine Star Group of Companies. SKAL International is chaired by Consul Bobby Joseph.

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