Upland development caused heavy flooding? Developer open to scrutiny

Local

WITH Cebu City still reeling from recurring floods, a top official of one of its largest upland estates said they are ready to open their doors to scrutiny and make changes if necessary.

Engr. Slater Young, chief strategic officer of the developer, said their team is confident in the project’s flood-control features but acknowledged public concern.

“We invite everybody to take a look at our plans… Even if naa miy pagkukulang, willing gyud mi to improve and contribute to our city,” Young said.

Young explained that the subdivision was designed with 19 detention ponds, facilities meant to hold and slowly release rainwater, and covers only half of its site to leave more space for greenery. Most subdivisions, he said, build over 70 percent of their land.

“From an engineering point of view, dili na siya mu-affect sa lagyo. Diri ra na siya duol… So kami confident kaayo mi. Even if naa miy pagkukulang, willing gyud mi to improve. Kay atoa ra gyud ning pinalanggang syudad,” he added.

Still, city officials admit flooding is now a citywide emergency.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, pointed to rapid upland expansion, outdated drainage, and climate change as culprits.

Tumulak warned that uncoordinated flood-control projects, whether by the city or the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), often worsen flooding downstream.

“Frankly speaking, even residents are not happy because if you build drainage upstream but not downstream, ang tubig adto didto sa ila. Mao na kinahanglan ug klarong master plan from the uplands to low-lying barangays,” Tumulak said.

Concerns over upland construction are not new. Past floods in Guadalupe and nearby barangays led City Hall to issue cease-and-desist orders against developers, citing runoff and siltation.

“Dili lang unta tan-awon ang project site, but also the downstream impact,” Tumulak said.

Young stressed their project has more safeguards than most developments and reiterated their commitment to transparency.

“Our efficiencies are only 50 percent instead of 70, meaning there’s a lot more open areas, a lot more greenery, a lot more detention ponds in the design plan. More so than any other development of this scale that I know of,” he said.

City officials, meanwhile, are eyeing longer-term measures, such as upland retention ponds, gabion dams, and integrated drainage systems, though they admit these will take time, funding, and cooperation.(TGP)