Pioneering Flood Control Initiatives by Pueblo de Oro

2017 Jul 21 | by Apple Barretto

Pueblo Business Park is a 23-hectare PEZA registered I.T. Ecozone which is part of the 360-hectare Pueblo de Oro Township in Cagayan de Oro.

Over the years, Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation (PODC) has been committed to environment-friendly programs and effective measures for the benefit and protection of its homeowners. Having pioneered green initiatives in property development, PODC has adopted the gold standard of planning and engineering for its developments in San Fernando, Pampanga; Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; and Cagayan de Oro.

Pueblo Pampanga’s 1.5 to 2-meter elevation ensures a flood-free community for its homeowners.

In the waterlogged city of San Fernando, homeowners of Pueblo de Oro’s 30-hectare residential subdivisions continue to benefit from a comprehensive flood study and flood fill allocation of 1.5-2 meters from the natural grade made more efficient by an excellent drainage system. As evidenced by the most recent monsoon rains, Pueblo Pampanga’s entire community was one of the few areas in San Fernando that remained accessible and flood-free.

In its 360-hectare master-planned township in Cagayan de Oro, Pueblo de Oro instituted measures to control water flow among its villages. PODC also implemented structures to control runoff from the upper plateau to its area in the valley 80 meters below. A major concrete drainage outfall down the hillside and a large detention pond in the valley were constructed to serve as a dissipater and catch basin, respectively, delaying water build up which could lead to flooding in areas bounded by the Calaanan Creek. The effectiveness of the system was proven in 2011 when the city was inundated by Tropical Storm Sendong. Several districts, especially in the downtown area, were severely flooded, but the detention pond was able to contain the excess water without over spilling, thus protecting the residents of Pueblo and nearby communities.

Pueblo’s efforts ensure that its developments are of high quality and that necessary engineering measures are provided for the safety and convenience of its residents. For 21 years now, PODC has crafted developments that are master-planned to be safe and dependable, even when some of its features are not readily apparent to the buyer’s naked eye.

The detention pond in the Calaanan Valley portion of the Township (lower left corner).