Monterrazas monitored for floods

6/1/2012

Water impounding ponds located below the Monterrazas de Cebu project in barangay Guadalupe did not overflow despite the rains that started last week.

But still, this may not yet be the basis for the lifting of City Hall's cease-and-desist order (CDO) to the real estate project, said Alvin Santillana, operations officer of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

A CDO was issued on the real estate development project after massive flooding last year in barangay Guadalupe and neighboring barangays was attributed to them.

To mitigate flooding impact of their project, City Hall required them to regularly desilt their water impounding ponds, install soil erosion and landslide mitigation measures and improve the project's drainage system.

However, Santillana said their observations on the impounding ponds alone may not be enough basis to already lift the CDO issued last year.

"The lifting of the CDO will depend on our group assessment," said Santillana.

He added that government offices and agencies whom Mayor Michael Rama tasked to monitor the progress of their compliance with city and environmental requirements are scheduled to convene next week to discuss Monterrazas de Cebu's request for the lifting of the CDO.

Cebu City’s Project Implementation and Monitoring Office (Primo) chairman Rolando Diola and CPDO chief engineer Alipio Bacalso wrote Rama early this month and recommended the lifting of the CDO after Genvi Development Corp., the developer of Monterrazas de Cebu, has “substantially complied” with the conditions set under the CDO.

Even barangay Guadalupe has already issued a "favorable recommendation" for the lifting of the CDO after Genvi put in place flood, landslide and soil erosion prevention measures, which include the planting of vetiber grasses and placement of cocomats along the slopes to prevent soil erosion.

Genvi has also installed diversion ditches and has been desilting their ponds at least twice a month. They are also continuing to assisted in the rehabilitation of areas affected by the July 2011 flooding.

Santillana said they last vi sited the Monterrazas project area on Monday and saw that their siltation pond especially the one located near the Bethany school did not overflow despite the rain.

He said the flooding of the nearby Francisca Village and Horse Shoe Drive was caused by the overflow of the creek in the area.

"Ang Monterrazaas dili na siya contributory sa flooding but we will have to further assess the situation there before we decide on the lifting of their CDO," said Santillana.

Santillana said that a meeting is scheduled next week with DENR, city egineering and disaster officials, Primo, city administrator Poblete and mayor Rama to discuss the request for the lifting of the CDO against.

Santillana added they are closely monitoring areas in the city that are high risk to flooding and landslides especially that the rainy season has started. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters

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