The proposed projects have already secured approval from the Provincial Development Council (PDC) and received conditional endorsement from the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-7).
The PDC endorsement issued on May 3 placed the proposed dam projects within DPWH-7’s priority pipeline, boosting their prospects for national funding and eventual implementation under the Metro Cebu Flood Control Master Plan.
Conditional endorsement
However, during a special RDC-7 meeting held on May 11 at the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev)-Central Visayas, the projects received only conditional endorsement, pending the submission of documentary requirements and the conduct of public consultations.
These include the submission of revised project profiles, terms of reference, and other documents needed to complete the assessment of the proposals for implementation readiness, responsiveness, and environmental and social acceptability.
The Water Resources Center Foundation Inc. of the University of San Carlos will extend assistance to DPWH in preparing the required documents.
DPWH-7 was given ample time to comply in view of the projects’ importance in addressing Cebu’s persistent problems of flooding and water scarcity.
Necessary projects
In a statement, Jennifer Bretaña, DepDev-7 director and RDC-7 vice chair, recognized the importance of the RDC endorsement of the proposed dam projects for their inclusion in DPWH’s budget allocation under the National Expenditure Program.
She, however, explained that the RDC’s fundamental consideration was to endorse compliant project concepts to prevent implementation problems, especially since the proposals seek to address not only flooding but also domestic water supply and irrigation concerns.
Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, RDC-7 chair, also supported the projects, saying they were necessary.
“We need water for Cebu — our primary objective — and we also need to capture, tame, and regulate water to optimize its storage and use, prevent flooding, and mitigate the impacts of drought,” said Baricuatro, who also sits as PDC chair.
During a consultation at the Capitol on May 18, Nonato Paylado, DPWH-7 assistant director, presented the proposal to build a series of dam structures along the province’s eight major river systems.
These are the Mananga River in Talisay City; the Bulacao, Guadalupe, Kinalumsan, and Lusaran rivers in Cebu City; the Butuanon River in Mandaue City; the Cansaga River, which traverses Consolacion town and Mandaue City; the Cotcot River in Liloan and Compostela towns; and the Danao River in Danao City.
Funding commitment
Baricuatro said during the consultation that P8 billion had been committed by the national government for the dam projects, which are expected to address the twin problems of water shortage and flooding.
“This is something that we must do…. These issues will haunt us for generations if we don’t do this…. We cannot waste this opportunity. We really have to seize this. If we will not do this, when will we do it? The floods will worsen,” she added.
Paylado said the dams would serve as major water-impounding structures that would reduce the velocity of flash floods, such as those experienced during Typhoon Tino, which triggered massive flooding in Metro Cebu and killed at least 260 people.
The volume of water contained by the dam structures, he added, could become a source of domestic water supply, reduce production costs per metric ton of water, recharge underground water sources, increase agricultural productivity, and revive freshwater fisheries, among other benefits. —-Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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