Deadly Floods in Cebu Spark Outrage Over P26 Billion Flood Mitigation Failures

Cebu: Torrential downpours from Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) have triggered the most devastating floods in Cebu's modern history, claiming at least 48 lives and prompting sharp criticism of the province's extensive flood prevention investments.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro voiced public frustration over the apparent shortcomings of the island's flood management infrastructure, which has received P26 billion in funding in recent years. "Despite P26 billion allocated for flood control in Cebu, we're still submerged to the extreme," she posted on her official Facebook account, highlighting the system's inability to safeguard residents.

The storm ravaged northern and central Cebu on November 4, unleashing relentless rains that rapidly inundated urban centers and vulnerable lowlands. As the typhoon's centre moved past, major waterways—including the Mananga, Cotcot, Tipolo, and Butuanon rivers—burst their banks, sending destructive surges through populated zones.

The majority of victims perished after being carried off by swift currents in residential subdivisions and river-adjacent settlements that were submerged almost instantly. Hardest hit were Cebu City, Mandaue, Talisay, Danao, and Compostela municipality.

Official data indicates that between 2022 and 2025, roughly half of the province's 410 flood mitigation initiatives—totalling P15.7 billion—focused on riverbanks, streams, and tributaries, extending beyond Metro Cebu. Social media users and community figures noted that the priciest endeavours aligned with the epicentres of the chaos, such as the P1.9 billion upgrades spanning the upper and lower Mananga River, which nonetheless flooded catastrophically, and a P149 million effort along the Cotcot River in Liloan, an early hotspot for inundation.

Critics are probing the initiatives' performance, potential execution flaws, and the roles of unchecked urbanisation and debris-blocked channels in amplifying the crisis. The typhoon displaced 119,523 people from 37,695 households, with many lingering in temporary shelters.

Northern Cebu, already reeling from recent earthquakes, faces ongoing blackouts and water shortages. Response teams are prioritising debris removal, infrastructure repairs, telecom restoration, and aid distribution, as officials anticipate escalating relief demands.