Archival, Soco want action on flood failures

Hisstatementcameaweek after Typhoon Tino battered Cebu, causing widespread flooding in several towns and cities—including Talisay, Consolacion, Mandaue, Cebu City, Balamban, Asturias, Compostela, Liloan, Danao, and Carmen.

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Thousands of constituents were stranded, homes were submerged, and rescuers worked around the clock to evacuate those who were trapped, prompting the vice governor to push for measures to resolve the situation.

Soco emphasized that the damage could have been prevented had the Metro Cebu Flood and Drainage System Master Plan been carried out as intended.

Hethencalled on authorities to fully implement the long-delayed Metro Cebu Integrated Flood and Drainage System Master Plan, warning that inaction and piecemeal projects have cost lives, livelihoods, and billions in damage.

Soco urged government agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to revisit and fast-track the plan designed to address Metro Cebu’s chronic flooding.

The master plan, developed by DPWH in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was designed to create a comprehensive drainage system stretching from Carcar City to Danao City. It accounted for urban growth, infrastructure expansion, and the worsening effects of climate change.

ARCHIVAL SOLUTION

The mayor confirmed that a technical team from the city, working in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has begun reviewing flood mitigation efforts and verifying whether national directives were properly implemented.

“Sa pagka karon, naa ta’y team sa syudad together with DENR ... Ang DENR naa siguro sila’y mga directive sa national offices nila nga tagsa-tagsaon ni’g tan-aw,” Archival explained.

One of the most pressing concerns is the P150-million flood control allocation for the Bacayan-Pit-os bridge—an infrastructure project that, according to Archival, was not reflected in official records nor known to him prior to the disaster.