Despite years of flood control and drainage investments, the Mandaue City Council is seeking a review of existing projects to determine whether current infrastructure is enough to address the city’s worsening flooding problem.
Councilor Carlo Fortuna filed a resolution calling on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Mandaue City Engineer’s Office to explain the status and effectiveness of completed, ongoing, and planned flood mitigation projects.
“Atong tuyo niana is we want to find out from the Department of Public Works and Highways whether the proposed and ongoing projects are sufficient and efficient enough to really address the flooding problem sa city,” Fortuna said.
Under the proposed measure, the two agencies will be asked to submit detailed reports and appear before the council to discuss project implementation, funding, timelines, and design capacities.
Fortuna said the recent heavy rains that flooded major roads and low-lying communities highlighted concerns over whether existing flood control measures are working as intended.
Among the affected areas were portions of the national highway in Barangays Subangdaku and Tipolo, A.S. Fortuna Street in Barangay Banilad, and A.C. Cortes Avenue near the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge in Barangay Looc.
He said the flooding caused property damage, displaced residents, stranded commuters, and disrupted traffic and business activities.
Fortuna cited the Metro Cebu Drainage Master Plan prepared by DPWH consultants in 2017, which identified Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City as among the areas vulnerable to flooding. The plan identified the Subangdaku River as a priority area for intervention.
“Mao na atong tan-awon kung base ba sa plano sa DPWH ang ongoing flood mitigation project nila, consistent ba sa master plan nga ilang gi-develop in 2017,” he said.
The councilor said the review aims to determine whether current flood projects follow the recommendations of the master plan, including measures intended to improve water flow and reduce flooding risks.
He questioned why major roads continue to experience severe flooding despite government spending on flood mitigation infrastructure.
“The recurring nature of these severe floods on primary roads serves as an undeniable testament that current flood prevention, drainage, and mitigation measures are either insufficient, failing, or fail to keep pace with the City’s rapid urban development,” Fortuna said.
Fortuna said residents deserve transparency on how flood control funds are being used and what long-term solutions are being pursued.
The proposed resolution seeks reports on flood control, drainage, and river widening projects implemented in the past five years, including their budgets, locations, and capacities.
It also asks the agencies to explain why flood control facilities in areas such as Tipolo, Subangdaku, A.C. Cortes Avenue, and A.S. Fortuna Street were unable to handle the volume of rainfall recorded on July 30.
The council is also requesting engineering plans and the city’s long-term flood mitigation strategy to address recurring flooding in vulnerable communities.
“Atong imbitahon para makasabot ta nganong hangtod karon mao gihapon na ang problema ug nisamot pa gyud hinuon,” Fortuna said.
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