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by Cebu Daily News

A Cebu City councilor is calling for inter-local government units cooperation and multi-sectoral participation in a pro-active program to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon said the abnormal rainfall last January 25 where 35.7 millimeter of rain fell in Cebu in two hours or 10 times the average rainfall of 3.2 mm to 3.5 mm.

“In less than two hours extreme rainfall caused flooding in different parts of Cebu and Mandaue cities and some areas reported floods as high as five feet, stranded at least 200 passengers, and some roads were rendered impassable due to high floodwaters.” Dizon said.
Dizon said floods showed Cebu City's vulnerability to extreme and unpredictable weather brought about by climate change.

He urged local government officials to put in place “measures to reduce the manifestations and avert the worst impact of climate change.”
Former Cebu City Councilor Gerry Carillo, consultant of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, agreed with Dizon.

Carillo, however, cited some concrete suggestions to mitigate the effects of climate change.
These are: Put up more drainage systems, declog existing drainage systems and create more catchments to prevent more water from coming down to the lowlands. /Correspondent Edison de los Angeles