Mandaue City braces for rainy season, fast-tracks drainage projects

Local

By Kaiser Jan Fuentes

MANDAUE City has ordered the acceleration of drainage improvement projects in flood-prone areas as the rainy season continues.

City officials cited ongoing works in key barangays and coordinated efforts with national agencies and private partners to address long-standing flooding concerns.

Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano directed concerned offices and contractors to fast-track drainage projects in Barangays Banilad and Tipolo to improve water flow and reduce flood impacts during heavy rainfall.

City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo “Sally” Malig-on Jr. said the instruction focuses on pushing contractors to complete ongoing works without delay as weather conditions remain unpredictable.

“Ang directive sa mayor pa paspasan ang ongoing works,” Malig-on said.

In Barangay Banilad, Malig-on reported that drainage improvements along A.S. Fortuna Street have already resulted in better water drainage, with floodwaters now receding faster than in previous years.

He added that residents have also reported fewer complaints related to flooding in the area.

The project in Banilad is around 80 percent complete, with remaining works focused on connecting the drainage system to Mahiga Creek.

In Barangay Tipolo, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) originally set a May deadline for its drainage project but requested an extension of more than a month, pushing completion to the end of June.

The project, which began in 2025, involves channeling water from the main highway through a private warehouse area before discharging into Tipolo Creek.

Malig-on acknowledged that flooding in Tipolo has been a persistent issue spanning several years and different administrations.

He stressed that drainage improvements can only reduce, not completely eliminate, flooding due to uncontrollable environmental factors such as rainfall intensity and upstream runoff.

“Kay di man nato kontrolado ang weather, ang climate change, ang tubig gikan sa bukid but at least mupaspas ang pag drain,” Malig-on said.

He added that while flooding still occurs during heavy rains, affected areas have shown improvement compared to past years, with lower flood levels reported in some locations.

“Mao na ang atong i expect, wala gyud nag promise ang administration nga wala nay baha sa Mandaue because that is not possible,” he said.

Alongside drainage upgrades, a private company is preparing to conduct dredging operations along the Butuanon River within the year in coordination with the DPWH as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative.

The project will cover about 3.6 kilometers, from the river mouth up to the bridge at M.C. Briones Street corner U.N. Avenue in Barangay Ibabao Estancia.

The city government said preparations are ongoing, including coordination on traffic management, barangay concerns, and equipment staging areas.

Officials expect the final arrangements to be completed within the month before full implementation begins.

The dredging activity is expected to address heavy siltation along the river, which has contributed to overflow during heavy rains.

Authorities also described the project as potentially one of the largest river dredging operations in the city and may take about a year to complete once fully mobilized.

Malig-on said the initiative is expected to significantly help in flood mitigation efforts in affected communities.

“Dako na og ikatabang kay kahibaw naman ta usa gyud sa makaproblema nga mu-overflow kana man gyung siltation,” he said.

He added that coordination meetings have already been held to address logistical concerns, including staging areas and traffic flow management.

“Hopefully madayon,” he said.

Earlier, the Mandaue City Council passed a resolution urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office VII to immediately repair, rehabilitate, or reconstruct a collapsed flood control structure along the Butuanon River in Barangay Paknaan.

The resolution stemmed from a City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) inspection on February 14, which confirmed damage to a riverbank protection structure.

The damage was initially attributed to heavy flooding brought by Typhoon Tino on November 4, 2025.

The council emphasized that around 4,887 residents in low-lying communities in Barangay Paknaan are potentially exposed to flooding and erosion risks if the damaged structure is not urgently repaired.

The resolution also called on DPWH Regional Office VII to coordinate closely with the DPWH 6th District Engineering Office, the City Engineer’s Office, the Office of the City Mayor, and the CDRRMO to ensure proper technical assessment, timely repair, and safety compliance during rehabilitation works.(MyTVCebu)