SIX vehicles and two houses inside a subdivision in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City were damaged by a flash flood, which homeowners blamed on the lack of drainage of a nearby construction site.
The flash flood reportedly happened when the perimeter fence of the construction site allegedly collapsed and the accumulated water came rushing to Goldenville Subdivision on Sapphire St. at 1 p.m. last Wednesday amid heavy rains, washing away two cars, two motorcycles and two multicabs. Two houses were also damaged.
“In our initial investigation, a wall or a perimeter fence collapsed kay nagtapok ang tubig, niya ni-claim ang mga residents nga walay drainage ang nearby construction site (A wall collapsed because the water has accumulated, and the residents claimed that the nearby construction site has no drainage),” Chief Insp. Jose Gesto, chief of the Guadalupe Police Station told Sun.Star Cebu.
A responding team of police officers inspected the area and confirmed the flash flood.
According to Gesto, affected homeowners Maria Itaas and Romancito Tumulak as well as the owners of the vehicles said that they are willing to file complaints against the construction site’s management, if they would not reach any settlement.
“I-reklamo nila kung dili mobayad (They will file complaints if they would not get paid). They will file a civil case of damage to property,” said Gesto.
He said that the homeowners told him that it was the first time they’ve experienced such a flash flood.
“Dugay na na sila nga mga residente karon pa sila nagka-flash flood pag construct na,” said Gesto.
When the cars were washed away, it hit the two houses, causing damage to the structures.
At City Hall, city officials said they will inspect the site today to validate the residents’ complaint that the construction of a nearby condominium caused flooding in the neighborhood.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) received complaints about the flooding in Goldenville last Wednesday.
“The flash flood was caused by accumulated water due to the small outlet on the wall of the subdivision. We are going to conduct further assessment in the area through the engineering department… We have to validate technically the residents’ complaint. We will conduct an actual survey,” said CCDRRMC Officer Nagiel Bañacia.
For her part, Engr. Josefa Ylanan of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) said she has yet to receive any complaint on the matter.
“If it’s an on-going development and it has caused flooding there we have to check that one,” she said.
Ylanan said a team will be sent to the area today for an inspection, after which, they will come up with recommendations to address the residents’ concerns.