Pier 2 wall demolished to ease flooding woes

CEBU, Philippines — A wall at Pier 2 was demolished in an effort to alleviate flooding caused by debris and garbage blocking the Estero de Parian river mouth in Cebu City,

In 2022, Task Force Gubat sa Baha, led by then-Mayor Mike Rama and former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, identified two bridge structures under the port area obstructing the river mouths.

The first wall at Pier 3 was removed two years ago, with Cimatu noting that such structures should not have been there in the first place.

As an immediate measure, the task force decided to demolish the walls at Piers 2 and 3 to allow access for desilting and declogging equipment.

Although the wall at Pier 3 was successfully removed to clear the Lahug river mouth, complications arose between Mayor Rama and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) management, delaying the demolition of the wall at Pier 2.

Following Rama's suspension, then acting Mayor Garcia engaged with the CPA to foster cooperation, resulting in an agreement to proceed with the demolition at Pier 2.

Initially scheduled for late last month, the demolition was postponed to yesterday, with Garcia now serving as the full-fledged mayor.

Mayor Garcia emphasized the effectiveness of diplomacy in achieving this outcome.

“I would like to specifically thanked the Cebu Ports Authority..kay ang Cebu Ports Authority gyud maoy nitugot gyud nato diri…liman kag bungkagon ilang bongbong..para lang gyud sa kaayuhan sa tanan,” Garcia said.

CPA’s General Manager Francisco Comendador also added it is indeed important to have partnership with other government agencies and the LGUs.

“Nagpasalamat ko ni mayor Garcia, iya ming gitagaan ug time na magkastorya. Magtinabamangay pra sa kaayuhan sa katawgan,” Comendador said.

On the other hand, TF GsB’s chief implementer, Mel Feliciano, thanked CPA for allowing such access.

“If there is an open communication, open-minded discussion, for sure we will come up with the right solution…now today we have the right solutions to be implemented,” Feliciano said. —/DGI (FREEMAN)