City, private firms working to address flooding at SRP

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/07/11/1475688/city-private-firms-working-address-flooding-srp
• Saturday, July 11, 2015 12:00 am

(The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will work with companies that own lands at the South Road Properties in addressing the problem of flooding in the area.

The project will be carried out through philosophy of “People-Privately Driven Governance” or “private public partnership.”

Mayor Michael Rama met with representatives of SM Prime Holdings, Filinvest Land, Inc., and AyalaLand yesterday afternoon after he received a letter from FLI asking the city to address the problem, as it may affect developments in the area.

“The group, with my thrust, after threshing what went wrong on how things are developed, the need to do it must be self-reliant and decentralized approach where among them FLI, which will now include Ayala, and at the same time SM,” Rama said.

Representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highway-7 were also present at the meeting.

SM owns 30 hectares while FLI has 10.6 hectares at the SRP. FLI is also developing 40 other hectares under a joint venture agreement with the city.

AyalaLand, meanwhile, won the bid for a 26.3-hectare property last June 30.

The City’s Committee on Awards declared the consortium of AyalaLand, Cebu Holdings, Inc. and SM Prime Holdings as highest bidder with P10.009 billion.

Filinvest Land, Inc. was the highest bidder for a 19.2-hectare property P6.7 billion.

On July 6, FLI sent the letter to the city government and the SRP Management Office stipulating its request to implement a drainage master plan, if one exists.

This after the property it is developing with the city was flooded last June 27. The company said water reached 43 centimeters high during the flood.

This is the FLI’s third letter to the city government.

Rama said the companies should not just rely on City Hall, stressing that, unlike government, they can disburse money without having to go through the official procedures.

“We may have the money, but we do not have the manpower. We may have the manpower, but we do not the money. What we have to look beyond is expediency and effectiveness and efficiency,” he said.

“They will not be thinking on the side of the city, waiting. Anyway, they are part of the territory, they have all the tools and manpower. It will now bring much of the independent approach. Very effective when all efforts are combined with,” Rama said.

He said the city will “oversee” the implementation of the anti-flood project, which he wants started soon.

“Just overseeing them so that they will not be waiting. Dapat tan-awon lang. if everything is doable, then the city will participate in another aspect. Ana man gud na. Naa may buhatonon nga ilang hunahuna nga maggikan gyud sa City hall, dili man kina-hanglan. Division of labor raman ni,” Rama said.

He said the comprehensive drainage master plan will be of no cost to the city.

Tungod sa kadako sa ilang developments, nganong dili man nato i-incorporate sa ilang developments? Nga kun buot hunahunaon, mura naman na’g ilahang lugar. With that, kun mabaha sila, kinsa man ang maproblema? They will be more concerned in having that drainage addressed,” Rama said.

The working group will be headed by FLI Vice President/ Area Manager Allan Alfon and SRP Management Office Manager Roberto Varquez.

Rama said SRP Management Office will be used for the group’s meetings.

In a separate interview, Alfon said, “I think that is the best direction because if the three of us are there, then one cannot put up a master plan without involving the others kay mag-interconnect man na siya.”

For now, Alfon said the companies will employ palliative solutions pumping the rainwater off the area and constructing a temporary drainage system should flooding occur again soon.

The group will meet on Monday to identify the permanent engineering solutions to the problem. —Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMO