Gubat sa Baha

Marc Cosep

Cebu City (October 10, 2022) -- Starting next week, designated river troopers will be
trained as part of the Gubat sa Baha campaign in restoring major rivers in the City.

This as occupants of the three-meter easement are encouraged to dismantle their

structures as the City will resume its enforcement in the next three months.

“Naka schedule na next week na mag training sila para sila na ang mo enforce sa
balaod,” said Raquel Arce, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Office.

The training, she said, is part of their massive campaign to reclaim, restore, and revive
the City’s 7 major rivers with the former Department of Environmental and Natural
Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu.

Arce said that the idea of deputizing river troopers stemmed following their clearing
operation in the Inayawan river.

“Although ma kaya raman gyud namo but sa kadako ug kadaghan sa river, it will really
take us time maong we need the help that we can get,” said Arce.

In every barangay at least 10 will be assigned as river troopers tasked with tagging
structures that have violated the three-meter easement requirement in City rivers.

With next week’s training, conducted by the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation
Enforcement Team (CESET), they will be deputized as environmental enforcers
authorize to penalize those who will be caught throwing their garbage on the rivers
based on existing ordinances.

“This is also a way of further implementing the EO which is the ‘Task Force Disiplina’
kung diin makadawat ug penalty katong mga nagpataka ug labay,” she said.

“Sila usab ang mo tabang nato ug pasabot sa mga residente sa pag guba sa ilahang
mga structure kay atong i-encourage nga ang mga residente ang mo guba para nindot
siya na example ug atleast makapanghipos ug pangandam sila kai after three months
mo balik nasab ta sa atong pag enforce,” she added.

As to private establishments, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Council (CCDRRMO) chairman Atty. Gerry Carillo said that some establishments have
expressed their willingness to cooperate in the City’s river rehabilitation campaign.
Carillo said that in Inayawan River, there are six big establishments that were identified
to have violated the easement rule and are willing to demolish their structures.

“Maong mapsalamaton mi nila because we are only given three months to accomplish
aning tagging and ilaha rang gi request is that once ma dismantle ang lot, ipakural ra
nila because titled man gyud ni ang ilahang yuta, but other than that they are willing ra
gyud,” said Carillo.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will also be compensating
these private establishments added Carillo.

In terms of maintenance, Carillo said that this cannot be done without the participation
of everyone.

“Unsaon mana nato na atong gi sugdan karon na administration nya inig next kai dili
sila mo support, or ang mga tao walay gihapoy pakibana nga kita tanan man ang maka
benepisyo ani,” he said.

Arce cited as an example the City’s series of dredging operations which prevented rivers
from overflowing following the recent downpour last Saturday.

“Tunggod kai nag sigi ta og tabang sa pang limpyo ni flow na atong mga river sa dagat
ug wala naclog,” she said.

As to temporary shelter for those affected in the clearing operation, they will be
transferred to a shelter, while those who are not a permanent resident in the City will
be assisted by the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) through their Balik
Probinsya Program.

“Atong clarohon na dili tanan entitled sa MRBs, while others will be transferred to a
temporary shelter or pinaagi sa tabang sa DSWS na program,” Carillo said.

Likewise, Carillo hopes that everyone will be on board with this undertaking as it entails
a huge effort among the community.

“Mag tinabangay lang gyud tang tanan because we cannot do this alone this is for
everyone man kai dili rani para nato but apil na atong mga anak,” he said.