Cebu Vice Governor Sounds Alarm on Flood Crisis
Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco has issued an urgent call for the immediate implementation of the Metro Cebu Flood and Drainage System Master Plan during a regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday, November 10, 2025. The official expressed deep frustration over the recurring flooding incidents that have plagued the province, including the recent impact of Typhoon Tino.
Abandoned Master Plan Could Have Prevented Disaster
In an emotional privilege speech, Soco revealed that the comprehensive flood management plan had been prepared years earlier by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the 2013 Roadmap Study for Sustainable Urban Development in Metro Cebu.
"The news that reached us in the morning of Nov. 4 was horrifying," Soco stated, referring to reports of submerged houses, casualties, and property damage. "What is most frustrating and infuriating is the fact that all these could have been avoided."
The Vice Governor first became aware of the master plan in 2017 while serving as president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Later, as chairman of the Infrastructure Committee of the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-7), he actively pushed for its endorsement and national funding.
Funding Started Strong Then Suddenly Stopped
Soco disclosed that the project initially received substantial financial support, with P700 million allocated in 2018 followed by another P1.2 billion in 2019. These funds were used to widen and improve several critical waterways, including the Subangdaku and Tipolo rivers in Mandaue and two additional rivers in Cebu City.
However, the Vice Governor revealed that "after that, nothing. Funding stopped, and the plan was shelved." This abrupt halt led to what he described as "random, uncoordinated projects—some done in wrong locations, some substandard, and many not following the master plan."
Soco didn't mince words about the consequences: "To be blunt about it: we abandoned the plan and the people paid the price."
Three-Point Action Plan Proposed
The Vice Governor found renewed hope after DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon committed to bringing the matter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for immediate attention and action.
Soco urged his colleagues in the provincial board to support three critical measures:
- Distribute copies of his speech to the DPWH and Office of the President to express Cebu's support for full master plan implementation
- Create an ordinance requiring all provincial developers to include rainwater catchment facilities in their projects
- Invite DPWH and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development to brief the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on the plan's status and implementation timeline
The Metro Cebu Flood and Drainage System Master Plan was specifically designed to manage flooding, prepare for ongoing urban development, and address the impacts of climate change—all critical needs for the rapidly developing province.
