'Flood free Cebu' movement launched

Local

CITIZEN-LED groups launched Flood Free Cebu, uniting business leaders, civic organizations, and youth volunteers in a campaign to address the city’s worsening flooding.

The initiative, organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Cebu Citizens Initiative (CCI), aims to combine education, community action, and accountability in building a more resilient Cebu.

The summit drew more than 5,000 participants, including barangay officials, Sangguniang Kabataan leaders, students, business executives, and civic organizations.

Organizers said the gathering was not just a conference but the beginning of a citizen movement anchored on shared responsibility.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, who attended the summit at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City on Saturday, Sept. 27, stressed that the City Government’s immediate priority is desilting rivers, which he described as the first line of defense against persistent flooding.

He warned that many waterways now sit higher than road levels, pushing rainwater back into city streets instead of draining to the sea.

“Flooding is only one problem, but it’s a major one,” he said in Cebuano.

Archival said improvements in flood response should be noticeable by March 2026, though he admitted flooding will not disappear overnight.

He explained that while floods will still occur, water should begin to subside more quickly than the one to two hours it currently takes.

Archival also underscored the need for a masterplan that goes beyond drainage to include solid waste management, traffic regulation, and community discipline.

His executive order establishing a Flooding and Drainage Council is expected to guide long-term interventions.

“If you fail to make a plan, you fail already,” he said.

The event also marked the formal launch of the Flood Hero Cebu Movement, presented by CCCI vice president for business development Bernard Vonn Sia.

He outlined the values of H.A.N.D.S.—positive mindset (Huna-huna), readiness to help (Andam Mutabang), mindfulness of others (Nagpakabana), inspiration (Dasigon), and service for the common good (Sirbisyo sa Katalingban).

“Our fight against flooding cannot wait for billion-peso infrastructure. It begins with our homes, our habits, and our hands. Every Cebuano can be a Flood Hero,” Sia said.

The summit program featured a situation analysis of Metro Cebu’s flood challenges, sessions on leveraging data and technology for mitigation, and panel discussions with both local and international experts.

Organizers also held a covenant signing, where participants pledged to practice sustainable habits such as proper waste disposal, community clean-ups, and rainwater harvesting.

Engr. John Carlo Lastimosa of Surbana Jurong noted that Cebu faces a “perfect storm” of threats, including sea-level rise, stronger typhoons, and rapid urbanization.

Dr. Danilo Jaque of Hydronet Consultants recommended practical community-level measures like detention basins and rainwater storage systems.

Coastal engineer Ranga Amaraweera from Singapore urged Cebu to adopt a 50-year planning mindset, citing Singapore’s long-term investments in flood control as a model.

Beyond technical solutions, the summit also spotlighted the role of young people and grassroots volunteers.

Organizers recognized barangay leaders and students who had led clean-up drives and awareness campaigns. UC student Ken Monique called for transparency and accountability, echoing earlier calls from civic leaders to ensure that public funds for flood projects are not lost to corruption.

The Cebu Coliseum itself highlighted the urgency of the issue. Although it recently underwent renovations under University of Cebu president Atty. Augusto W. Go, it remains one of the city’s most flood-prone areas during heavy rains.

Go had earlier urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to address persistent flooding in downtown Cebu.

CCCI president Jay Yuvallos closed the summit by calling on every Cebuano to take part.

“This is not about the Chamber or the government. This is about us, the people of Cebu. Let us rise together. Let us be flood heroes,” he said.(Kaiser Jan Fuentes)