City Hall to Comply Rainwater Catchment Law

Mayor Michael Rama ordered the construction of rainwater catchments for the Cebu City Hall buildings in compliance with City Ordinance 1711, also known as the “Water Conservation and Flood Prevention Ordinance.”

City Councilor Gerardo “Gerry” Carillo said the mayor assured him to comply with the provisions of the ordinance saying they serve as model for the people.

“Giingnan ko ni mayor nga magpabuhat siya dayon og water catchments para sa duha ka City Hall building kay dili maayo tan-awon nga modemanda ta nga tumanon sa mga tawo ang ordinansa unya kita wala motuman,” Carillo said.

The City Council earlier pushed for the full implementation of the ordinance to help minimize flooding and to save potable ground water.

Violators will be penalized with a fine of more than P1,000 or an imprisonment of not more than six months.

The City Hall annex building along M.C. Briones Street was built in 1997, while the old City Hall building was renovated sometime in 2007 but the city officials failed to comply with the ordinance.

Rama was still a city councilor when the ordinance was passed in 1998 requiring building owners to provide rainwater tank or container for domestic use to conserve potable water and also to help minimize flooding.

In last session of the city legislators, Carillo had asked the Office of the Building Officials (OBO) to strictly implement the provisions of City Ordinance 1711.

There is also a national law, Republic Act 6716, that was enacted way back in 1989 that also requires the construction of water catchments in newly-constructed buildings, even residential houses worth P5 million or more.