Cebu City ramps up typhoon recovery efforts

Local

CEBU City is accelerating its post-Typhoon Tino rehabilitation efforts.

Mayor Nestor Archival pressed barangay leaders to immediately identify land for the relocation of displaced families and to strictly comply with danger-zone regulations.

Archival convened a special meeting of the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC) earlier this week, bringing together ABC President Franklin Ong, barangay captains, department heads, CCDC officials, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) representatives.

The mayor stressed that the city can no longer delay long-standing issues involving land acquisition, relocation, and the safe clearing of affected communities.

Teachers have repeatedly appealed for the evacuation of families still staying in classrooms, prompting the City to expedite permanent relocation arrangements.

Barangay Bacayan earlier reported more than 500 affected individuals, figures pending validation, while Acting Vice Mayor Winston identified a potential three-hectare relocation site in Barangay San Jose.

“Mangita mo’g lugar nga mapalit. We need you to identify possible areas for relocation so we can move our affected families out of the danger zones and temporary shelters,” Archival told barangay officials.

The meeting also confronted persistent conflicts over easement measurements along rivers and creeks, an issue that has hindered clearing operations.

Architect Anne Cuizon of the CPDO reiterated the minimum three-meter easement requirement from natural waterways, but Archival noted that DPWH flood-control structures have altered riverbanks in some areas, leading to inconsistent measurements.

He directed engineers to review actual reference points to ensure that both enforcement and planning are based on accurate, uniform markers.

Barangay captains were further ordered to complete and submit their individual rehabilitation plans, which will be consolidated into the City’s overall recovery framework.

Archival reiterated that 70 percent of barangay financial aid is dedicated to rehabilitation, and funding cannot be released until plans are submitted.

The mayor also presented more than ₱1.5 billion worth of unimplemented Local Development Fund (LDF) projects dating back to 2016.

Many of these, he said, have become outdated due to changing needs and policy shifts. These items will be reevaluated once the Enhanced Implementing Plan (EIP) is approved later this month.

Meanwhile, City Hall teams continue 24/7 cleanup operations across flooded zones, with officials urging communities, establishments, and volunteers to join in clearing debris and restoring surroundings.

Schools remain temporary evacuation centers while clearing progresses, and assistance teams are deployed daily to provide food, water, and medical support to evacuees.

Residents are advised to conserve water as MCWD repairs damaged transmission lines from Lusaran and Jaclupan, though the utility reports that substantial restoration is expected within the last week of November. Water tankers continue to service hard-hit areas.

VECO reports that power restoration has reached 95 percent citywide. Road clearing operations are ongoing in upland barangays in both the North and South districts, while structural assessments continue on key infrastructure, including the Talamban-Bacayan Bridge where cracks were detected; temporary supports are now being prepared by DEPW, DPWH, the Philippine Army, and CITOM.

Relief operations remain active, with food and water packs distributed daily, particularly to severely affected barangays such as Lusaran, Mangabon, Pulangbato, Paril, and others.(TGP)