Mandaue moves to solve perennial flooding in Guizo school

Local

AFTER viral videos showed students being carried out of a flooded campus aboard rescue boats, the Mandaue City Government is moving to address the long-standing flooding problem at Mayor A.S. Fortuna Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Guizo.

Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano inspected the school on Monday, Aug. 3, together with personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), City Engineering Office, and City Planning and Development Office to assess the flooding situation and identify possible solutions.

The inspection followed heavy rains on July 30 and 31 that flooded at least 10 ground-floor classrooms of the school.

Floodwaters reached waist level on July 30, forcing school personnel and responders to evacuate students using rescue boats.

Ouano said the flooding problem in the area has existed for decades due to the school’s low elevation and its location beside Tipolo Creek, where siltation and high tide contribute to water backing up toward the community.

He said the city had already been informed months earlier by the school’s former principal about the recurring flooding and had prepared a P2.7-million drainage improvement project.

However, the original drainage plan was revised after engineers determined that the proposed alignment through the middle of the school grounds could affect future development plans.

School principal Karem Bolok said the city initially planned to place the drainage line at the center of the campus but later decided to reroute it outside the school to avoid affecting possible construction projects.

“Ang una nga plan is sa center sa school muagi but na-realize nga maka-add og gymnasium sa school and maguba man, maong adto na lang sa gawas ipaagi,” Bolok said.

Ouano identified the narrowing of Tipolo Creek as one of the major causes of flooding in the area.

He said sections of the waterway have been reduced by structures built along its banks, restricting the flow of water.

He said a portion of the creek that was originally around five to six meters wide has narrowed to about half a meter in some areas.

The city plans to conduct dredging operations along Tipolo Creek to restore its capacity and improve water flow.

Ouano said the project would require additional resources and possible assistance from the national government.

He said he intends to seek support from Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, particularly for heavy equipment that can be used for dredging.

In the meantime, the city has deployed a water pump at the school, installed PVC pipes to help direct floodwaters, and continued declogging operations in the area.

Ouano said the temporary measures can only provide limited relief, especially during high tide when water from the creek can flow back toward the school.

“Ang atong temporary solution naa ni atong pump karon ibutang ni didto sa atubangan. Mu-pump ang tubig diri pero kung high tide, walay kagawasan ang tubig, mu-backflow gihapon siya,” he said.

The city is also coordinating with residents living beside Tipolo Creek to clear obstructions that have affected the waterway.

Ouano estimated that around 30 to 50 houses are located along the affected section.

He said some structures may need adjustments to restore the creek’s flow but assured residents that the goal is to improve drainage and reduce flooding.

Residents have expressed support for the planned intervention, with long-time community members saying flooding has been a recurring problem in the area.

Ouano said resolving flooding in Mandaue will require both immediate actions and long-term infrastructure projects, noting that some drainage systems have become insufficient due to rapid urban development.

The city is also implementing flood mitigation projects in other flood-prone areas, including A.S. Fortuna Street in Barangay Banilad and Lopez Jaena Street in Barangay Tipolo.(MyTVCebu)