A screengrab from a video shows the flooding at La Paloma subdivision in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on Thursday, July 30, following a heavy downpour. CDN Digital video | Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City will pursue the acquisition of about one hectare of land in Barangay Tisa for a floodwater reservoir, marking its first concrete long-term flood mitigation proposal after last week’s widespread flooding submerged communities, stranded commuters, and triggered rescue operations.
Mayor Nestor Archival said the proposed reservoir would temporarily hold storm runoff rushing from upland areas before it reaches flood-prone communities in Tisa and neighboring Barangay Labangon, where hundreds of homes went underwater.
The city also plans to use part of the property as a waste-processing facility serving nearby barangays, hoping it will reduce garbage that continues to clog waterways and worsen flooding.
“We’re looking at acquiring that lot immediately and converting it into a reservoir,” Archival told reporters on Monday.
