Nearly ₱4 billion has been spent on flood control projects in Mandaue City over the past seven years.
CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Close to ₱4 billion in local and national funds have been spent on flood control projects in Mandaue City over the past seven years, yet the city remains one of the worst-hit by flooding in Metro Cebu.
The Mandaue City Government has poured nearly ₱700 million into flood control and drainage initiatives since 2018, guided by its Drainage Master Plan.
Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano said city records show about ₱657 million has already been used for flood mitigation works, including an ongoing project along the Butuanon River. He clarified that these city-funded projects are separate from those undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) using national funds.
From 2022 to 2025, the DPWH has allocated over ₱3 billion for flood control projects in Mandaue City, most of which are concentrated along the Butuanon River. Currently, 12 projects are ongoing there, the mayor said.
Ouano has ordered the City Engineering Office and DPWH to conduct a joint inspection of all ongoing and completed projects, especially those along Butuanon River, to ensure compliance with design and construction standards.
“I-inspect kaning mga proyekto nato sa syudad, just to make sure nga mulungtad gyud ni og dugay,” said Ouano.
In an earlier interview, City Planning and Development Office head Architect Marlo Ocleasa explained that most city-funded projects cost less than ₱50 million and are carried out in phases by area.
He said the projects aim to resolve chokepoints, particularly along A.S. Fortuna Street, where floodwaters often accumulate.
“Most of our projects target areas with poor drainage or where water flow is obstructed. We prioritize building proper outfalls to accommodate runoff from higher-elevated areas,” Ocleasa said.
Ocleasa added that projects exceeding ₱50 million usually need DPWH support due to the city’s limited funds. He thanked the agency for its coordination with the local government and noted that DPWH follows the Metro Cebu Drainage Plan, which aligns with Mandaue’s own master plan.
He stressed that fully implementing the plan will be crucial to addressing the city’s flooding problems.
Meanwhile, DPWH-7 attributed the flooding along A.C. Cortes Avenue in Mandaue City, particularly near the UCLM area, to illegal structures obstructing waterways and rising sea levels.
DPWH-7 Regional Director Danilo J. Villa Jr. said their engineers found that encroachments and unauthorized structures have made drainage lines “inaccessible and untraceable,” preventing the system from functioning.
“These obstructions have rendered the existing drainage line inaccessible and untraceable, preventing the system from functioning as intended,” the agency said.
Another factor is rising sea levels. During high tide, seawater pushes back into drainage outfalls, limiting stormwater flow.
“This natural barrier worsens flooding in low-lying areas during heavy rainfall,” DPWH added.
To address these challenges, Villa highlighted the activation of the Incident Command System (ICS), which enables DPWH to deploy manpower, equipment, and resources to staging areas across Metro Cebu for faster and more coordinated flood response.
He also urged communities and local governments to help keep waterways clear and drainage facilities maintained.
“Flooding is not just an engineering issue—it is a community concern. We call on everyone to observe proper solid waste disposal management and help keep our waterways clear. Only by working together can we reduce the impact of flooding in Metro Cebu,” Villa said earlier.
Public awareness campaigns are also underway to discourage dumping of garbage in canals and to encourage reporting of illegal encroachments.
With Metro Cebu’s rapid urbanization and vulnerability to climate change, DPWH emphasized that integrated flood management—combining infrastructure, regulation, and community participation—remains vital to protecting lives, property, and economic activity.
| Written by Kristin De Dios, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon
