Cebu City inspects upland subdivision detention facilities

Local

THE Cebu City Government is moving to validate drainage and detention facilities in upland subdivisions following reports that some developments may not have received or implemented required detention plans.

Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Mayor Nestor Archival, said the city has received reports covering 16 subdivisions and has begun checking the developments with the concerned offices.

Among those already inspected was Monterrazas, where personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Public Services, the City Administrator’s Office and other city offices reviewed the area and its submitted detention plan.

Siasar said the inspection also extended to nearby areas, including Arcenas. However, he acknowledged that identifying existing detention facilities has not been easy, particularly in developments where the facilities are not readily visible.

The city plans to consolidate the results of the inspections and submit its findings to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which will determine whether the developments complied with applicable requirements.

Siasar said the city also learned that some subdivisions, including developments that had already been turned over to homeowners’ associations, may not have received detention plans.

The matter is particularly complicated for older subdivisions because the original developers may no longer be directly involved in the management of the properties.

Whether these developments will still be required to establish detention facilities will depend on the DENR’s assessment, Siasar said.

He also raised the question of who would finance the construction or rehabilitation of detention facilities in privately owned subdivisions if these are found to be necessary.

The city has yet to determine whether the expenses would fall on homeowners’ associations or require another arrangement.

Siasar cited La Paloma as one area where the city has encountered facilities that are no longer functioning properly. Some portions of the subdivision have also required city intervention despite being privately owned.

He said the City Legal Office has issued an opinion emphasizing the distinction between private properties and government-funded projects.

Beyond checking individual detention facilities, Siasar said the city is also looking at whether existing requirements remain adequate as more open spaces are converted into concrete surfaces.

He explained that developments with large paved areas generate more surface runoff because rainwater can no longer be absorbed by the ground as before.

The city is therefore considering the capacity of detention facilities and drainage networks to determine whether they can adequately handle the increased volume of water.

The Technical Infrastructure Committee is also expected to revisit guidelines for subdivision developments and examine deficiencies identified in previous projects.

Siasar said there is no fixed deadline yet for the inspections. The city will first organize the team that will undertake the broader assessment before setting a specific timetable.(MyTVCebu)