Mandaue clears Tipolo Creek to ease flooding near school
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The city government has started dredging and clearing sections of Tipolo Creek, a key step to protect A.S. Fortuna Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Guizo and nearby communities from floods that have disrupted classes and daily life.
City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. inspected the operation near Tipolo Residences on Wednesday, August 11. The work began after Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano visited the school and surrounding areas last week, seeing firsthand how floodwaters had affected students and residents.
What the dredging involves
The city requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to take on the dredging as an immediate measure. The DPWH regional office responded by sending equipment, while the city provides fuel for the operation.
Malig-on said the initial focus is on sections that equipment can easily reach. The city is also coordinating access to other parts of the creek. Workers are removing silt, soil, wood, and other debris that have blocked the natural waterway.
“Modako ang capacity sa sapa nga maagian sa tubig. Dili lang palawman, mahulog siya nga palapdan in a sense nga ibalik ang natural nga agianan nga karun nabunbunan og kahoy, yuta. Matangtang na siya ma-open ang capacity sa creek,” Malig-on said in Cebuano. (The creek’s capacity to handle water will improve. This work isn’t just making it deeper, but in a sense, it’s being restored to its natural course. Wood and soil have clogged it. Once it’s cleared, the creek’s capacity will open up.)
Other measures to prevent floods
Dredging is just one part of a broader plan. The city is also clearing obstructions in the creek, installing a pipe to provide an additional water passage, and placing a suction pump at the school.
Malig-on clarified that no houses have been demolished. However, a structure used as a washing area that was blocking the creek was removed to clear the waterway.
Flooding affects areas around Tipolo and Guizo and can extend toward Mantuyong, especially when high tide slows water outflow. “Giingun man tong mayor naay mga long-term ug short-term measures. Ang duha nga immediate short term nahimo dredging ug kato giguba ang labhanan. Ang medium term kato gibinlan og suction pump ug kato butangan og pipe moagi sa kilid. So, kutob sa nahimo, nahimo na dayun ang tulo,” Malig-on said. (The mayor said there would need to be both long-term and short-term measures. Two of the immediate short-term measures are ongoing: the dredging and the removal of that washing area. A more medium-term solution was providing a suction pump and installing a pipe on the side for the water to flow through. Within its capacity, the city has worked on those three solutions.)
“Of course, dredging is a continuing effort because the silt in the creek builds up over time,” he added.
Why this matters for Mandaue
For residents and students in Guizo, the flooding has been a recurring problem that disrupts education and livelihoods. The school, which serves many families in the area, has seen classes suspended when waters rise. These measures aim to provide relief, but the city acknowledges that long-term solutions, such as better drainage and creek maintenance, are still needed.
Mayor Ouano has stressed that the city is committed to addressing flooding, balancing immediate actions with planning for the future. The dredging is a start, but it will require sustained effort and community cooperation.