City Initiates Reduction of Danger Zones in Rivers

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has created a group composed of representatives from the different City Hall departments to look for ways on how to solve flooding and overflowing of creeks in the city.

The mayor named the group as Reduction of Danger Zones in Rivers or ReDZ-R. The group prioritizes the clearing of obstructions in five big rivers and creeks in the city that are identified as ‘contributors’ to flooding.

These are the Mahiga Creek, Lahug Creek, and Bulacao Creek, as well as the Guadalupe River and the Kinalumsan River in Barangay Mambaling.

Former councilor Jose Daluz III, Rama’s trusted aide, said that the mayor decided to make immediate moves to counter the flooding every time there is heavy downpour.

Rama warned that informal settlers along the five creeks and rivers might be forcibly removed as soon as the ReDZ-R starts its mandate.

Daluz said that the team is tasked to study and evaluate the status of the creeks and to recommend to the mayor what actions to take.

The City Government however needs several millions of pesos to relocate the families to be affected in the clearing of waterways.

Daluz, who will head the ReDZ-R, said the city will try to look for possible financial assistance from foreign funding institutions. City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete and Councilor Dave Tumulak were tasked to handle the task.

According to Daluz, the members of ReDZ-R will meet every Monday morning to discuss any development of their respective task, although Daluz admitted that solving the flooding problems in the city cannot be done immediately.