Cebu’s ₱50-B flood fix under scrutiny after storm disaster

National

TEN years and ₱50 billion later, Cebu’s flood woes remain.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has turned over the record of its flood-control projects to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), allowing investigators to scrutinize how government funds were used.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that government spending on flood-control works in Cebu has reached more than ₱50 billion over the past decade, far exceeding earlier reports of ₱26.7 billion. He said the ICI would have full access to project details and that the DPWH was ready to cooperate with the probe.

“We will let the ICI investigate that. Whatever information they need about these projects, we will provide it to them,” Dizon said in an interview over dzBB, as quoted by Philstar.

He added that the deadly flash floods that struck Cebu City during Typhoon Tino revealed serious lapses in past planning, particularly in dike and revetment projects that failed to manage runoff.

According to Dizon, effective flood control must begin upstream, before water from the Mananga and Butuanon rivers surges through the city — a step often overlooked in previous designs.

To address these shortcomings, the DPWH is collaborating with experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the University of the Philippines (UP), and Project NOAH to create science-based flood-mitigation plans for Cebu and other vulnerable regions.

The partnership will ensure that starting next year, agencies and local governments carry out technically sound measures before the rainy season.

Project NOAH executive director Mahar Lagmay said this is the first time the agency has been formally involved in the flood-control planning process.

“We’ve never been consulted before in the sense that we take part in the planning process, in doing the master plan. But now we’re very happy that we are being consulted by DPWH,” Lagmay said in the same report.

He explained that all proposed projects will undergo scientific assessment and simulation before implementation, with priority given to nature-based interventions such as reforestation, rainwater harvesting, and sponge roads.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has ordered the DENR to investigate reports that deforestation and quarrying worsened the flooding caused by Typhoon Tino.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago called for an independent probe into the Cebu flooding, emphasizing that the tragedy highlighted the severe human and environmental toll of corruption and government neglect.(MyTVCebu)