CEBU CITY – Former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu will lead efforts to rehabilitate rivers in this city.
Cimatu said he is hoping that he will be able to replicate in Cebu what he did with Boracay, Marikina River, and Cagayan River when he was the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
He, whoever, admitted that the task at hand will be difficult.
“Cebu City is much bigger. It will be very difficult," Cimatu said in a press briefing on Thursday, Sept. 15.
He was appointed by Mayor Michael Rama as the city’s “DENR-like secretary.”
Cimatu will also be involved in the city’s Task Force Gubat sa Baha (War on Flood).
Illegal structures blocking waterways have been blamed for the heavy flooding experienced here in recent weeks.
Cimatu said part of the task force’s goals is to dredge and clear the rivers from illegal structures which include commercial establishments and dwellings of informal settlers.
"If there are illegal structures there, then they are violating the law. We are going to look into that . We will clear it," Cimatu said.
Cimatu urged owners of illegal structures to “self-demolish.”
"I know that they know that there is a law on easement. I suggest na (that) they have to self-demolish already," Cimatu added.
Cimatu said the problem on flooding will not be solved overnight.
But Cimatu said at least the city has started to find measures to address the problem.
“Maybe we can do it in several years. It is a challenge really but with your cooperation we will probably be able to do it,” said Cimatu.