Construction of Cebu City dams await funding

CEBU, Philippines — At least P149 million worth of proposals for the construction of dams in the upland areas of Cebu City has been approved by the City Council, with funding allocation now on the table of Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia.

During the regular session last Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the Cebu City Council approved the resolution filed by Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure of the city council, asking acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia to fund the construction of dams based on the proposal of the Department of Engineering And Public Works (DEPW).

It has been previously reiterated by both the executive and legislative branches of the Cebu City Government that the city is in dire need of the creation of dams to address both pressing problems of flooding and the recent water crisis as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.

In Guardo’s resolution presented on June 27, 2024, he noted that his office received a letter from Engr. Ma. Lilibeth S. Del mar, Planning, and Design Division Head of DEPW, laying down the POWE of the construction of dams in the upland areas, which cost is at P149 million.

This will be charged under the General Fund 2023 Special Account Outlay for Environmental Flood Control System 2023, which has been accordingly defunded.

In the same resolution, it was stated that the DEPW has identified 13 sites along Pulangbato River included in the prepared POWE.

“Funding the construction of dams at Upland areas as depicted in the POWE would not only provide hope and an impulse of change to the agricultural sector but also prevent severe flooding, landslides and prevent or minimize damage to government infrastructures,” Guardo said in his resolution.

Taking significance on the said projects, Guardo cited that there is an “increasing probability of La Nina developing in June-July-August 2024” as per the report of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Further, attached in his resolution is the letter signed by Del Mar which says that the project is one of the recommendations and one of the priority projects to adapt to climate change.

“It was introduced during the RDC Meeting at NEDA, where our office was invited, representing yours truly,” the letter reads.

It added that the Pulangbato River is one of the series of rivers of Butuanon River with a final outfall in Mandaue City. It also cited that the headwater is from Pulangbato, Agsungot, Binaliw, Pit-os, Bacayan, and Talamban Rivers.

“It is on this light, that we humbly ask your good self to lobby this POWE to the SP Council to sponsor a budget allocation for this project and be given urgency. There are a lot of additional sites for funding as previously mentioned, Butuanon River has a series of rivers,” it also reads. -  ATO (CEBU NEWS)