Baricuatro orders dredging, desilting of Carcar waterways

Local

CEBU Gov. Pamela Baricuatro on Tuesday, Nov. 25, ordered the immediate dredging and desilting of waterways in Carcar City and nearby areas to reduce flood risks.

This follows the overflow of the spillway in Barangay Poblacion I that inundated surrounding communities early in the day.

Baricuatro stressed that clearing clogged rivers and drainage channels is essential to prevent further flooding, especially in spillway-prone areas.

With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Oplan Kontra Baha program, Baricuatro said she will request the Department of Public Works and Highways to redirect heavy equipment to Carcar City and other parts of southern Cebu to assist in dredging and clearing mud along the spillway.

The nationwide Kontra Baha initiative, first launched in Metro Manila, aims to declog, desilt, and clean major rivers, creeks, and drainage systems to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

Last Friday, in Metro Cebu, the program involves dredging, removal of obstructions, and restoration of waterways including the Mahiga, Butuanon, Subangdaku, Arrabal/Kinalumsan, Guadalupe, Kamputhaw, Mananga, and Cotcot Rivers.

Experts are also identifying sites for three to five sabo dams to control water flow and mitigate soil and debris during heavy rains.

Baricuatro also discussed long-term solutions for residents living along flood-prone waterways.

She said the provincial government is coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to identify unused agricultural lots in Minganilla and Talisay as potential relocation sites.

Baricuatro said the provincial government is exploring these properties to provide safe housing for affected families and plans to ask the President to issue a presidential order to relocate residents living near rivers and spillways.

She added that the goal is to create a livable township that ensures the safety of these communities.

Carcar City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Joyce Mae Powao reported that flooding affected barangays Poblacion I, II, III, and Ocaña.

Heavy rain began around 8 p.m. Monday and intensified by 11 p.m., with the spillway overflowing at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

The waters rose rapidly in just 30 to 45 minutes, temporarily making roads impassable, but receded by 8 a.m.

A total of 101 families, or 439 individuals, were evacuated. Some local stores and gasoline stations were affected, but fiesta activities continued as planned.

The provincial government and local LGUs provided 1,000 hot meals, 1,000 food packs, and 1,000 bottles of water, while most of the 210 boxes of prophylaxis were delivered directly to 15 barangays in Carcar City.

Baricuatro emphasized improving the province’s disaster response.

“The disaster risk is increasing. It was just a division before; it wasn’t a department. It’s only when I took office that we made it into a department," she said.(MyTVCebu)