Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has clarified that he is not opposed to progress, but he insists that public safety must remain the top priority in all urban development projects. In a stern warning, he stated that he would push for the suspension of the Monterrazas de Cebu project if flooding incidents recur, emphasizing the need for stringent oversight.
Flood Risks from Upland Developments
During a press briefing on Friday, April 10, 2026, Osmeña highlighted that upland developments such as Monterrazas must be evaluated based on their actual impact on flooding in lower-lying areas of the city. He explained that earth-moving activities and road construction in these projects accelerate water runoff, directing it rapidly toward downstream neighborhoods like Barangay Guadalupe.
This issue is not isolated to Monterrazas alone, Osmeña noted. It is a widespread problem across the city's mountainous regions, where large-scale construction has altered the natural absorption of water into the soil and disrupted drainage pathways. The vice mayor stressed that these changes have significantly increased flood risks, making comprehensive assessments essential.
Limitations of Drainage Systems
Osmeña also addressed the limitations of existing drainage infrastructure. He argued that merely installing more pipes does not guarantee flood prevention, especially when runoff from higher elevations becomes more intense. To illustrate this, he compared the system to a container: adding more holes might slightly delay flooding, but it cannot stop water from overflowing entirely.
He pointed out that detention ponds are a crucial component of flood control. Monterrazas, for instance, features 22 detention ponds with a total capacity of 62,468 cubic meters, designed to temporarily store rainwater and release it gradually into lower canals. However, Osmeña cautioned that these systems must be properly designed, sized, and maintained to be effective. Inadequate upkeep or design flaws could render them useless during heavy rainfall.
Infrastructure Layout and Flood Acceleration
Furthermore, Osmeña warned that additional road construction within developments like Monterrazas could exacerbate flood risks by speeding up water flow downhill. The layout of infrastructure plays a significant role in determining how quickly water reaches lower areas, he explained. Without careful planning, even well-intentioned projects can inadvertently worsen flooding conditions.
In conclusion, Osmeña reiterated the government's responsibility to strictly regulate upland developments and ensure that proven flood control measures are in place before any expansion proceeds. He called for a more proactive approach to urban planning, where safety and environmental impact are prioritized over unchecked growth. This stance underscores a growing concern in Cebu City about balancing development with sustainable practices to protect communities from natural disasters.
