Ordinance requiring buildings to put up water basin pushed

CEBU, Philippines- To prevent floodwater from overflowing to lowland areas, project developers will be soon required to put up storm water retarding basin in their constructions.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will be pushing for an ordinance that will require to-be developed constructions to include the said facility.

“I am going to introduce an ordinance, still about catchment basin, bringing all buildings to have not just cistern above but to have an underground retention or catchment basin,” he said.

“All water during rain will be impounded (underground wherein accumulated rainwater will) be released when the rain is over and most of all, when the tide is low,” he added.

In a June 15, 2015 letter, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson showed Rama a sample of a draft ordinance requiring project developers to put up such facility.

As stipulated, local government units shall enforce the ordinance “in order to restrain the increment of peak flood run-off discharge brought about by the construction of new development projects to reduce flood damages in the lowland areas.”

If approved, the ordinance shall be known as the “On-Site Flood Regulation Pond Requirement in a Development Project.”

Required development projects include residential subdivisions and other projects such as shopping malls, commercial development and industrial estate development.

Further, the said pond shall be designed and constructed by the developer, wherein the design will have to be reviewed by a licensed engineer and approved within the procedure of subdivision permit or building permit.

The facility shall be incorporated to the landscape of the development project, in which the maintenance work shall be conducted regularly by the owner, the homeowner’s association and the LGU.

The facility could also be used as an amenity space such as park and sports ground during fine weather condition.  Drainpipes for household waste and other sanitary sewage pipes shall not be connected to the pond as regular inspection shall also be made to prevent dumping of garbage in the water area.

Moreover, the owner or project developer shall donate the facility to the duly accredited homeowners association. (FREEMAN)