Council presses update on drainage master plan

“Every time it rains, we watch history repeat itself. Our oldest street suddenly transforms into Cebu's oldest river, with its surrounding areas joining the scene,” Garganera said.

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He described the situation as more than a mere inconvenience, likening it to a “predator that disappears into the shadows” only to resurface with every heavy downpour.

“It may subside for now, but it never truly leaves,” he added.

Garganera acknowledged that climate change may be a factor, but stressed that local issues must also be addressed. He pointed to clogged drainage systems, unauthorized and poorly placed structures along waterways, and unfinished flood-mitigation projects as aggravating factors.

Quoting experts, he said today’s flooding reflects past mistakes—wetlands paved over, creeks buried, and construction allowed on floodplains without regard for long-term consequences. Old maps from as early as the 1700s, he noted, show where rivers and natural channels once flowed.

“Today, these waterways lie hidden under reclaimed land and paved streets, leaving rainwater with no place to go except into our homes and businesses,” he said.