The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has led the installation of a floating boom in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City-strengthening efforts to intercept waste and prevent plastic leakage into major waterways.
Installed along Mahiga Creek, the floating boom is designed to capture and contain floating debris, reinforcing the existing trash trap system already in place. This layered approach improves waste interception efficiency, helping reduce waterway clogging, mitigate flood risks, and prevent plastics and other pollutants from reaching the ocean.
The initiative builds on the momentum of the Cebu Flood Hero Movement, expanding it into a broader, multi-stakeholder effort that goes beyond a single campaign. It reflects a growing commitment among private sector leaders, local government units, and community stakeholders to pursue practical, scalable solutions to urban flooding and solid waste challenges.
CCCI is undertaking this initiative in partnership with RiverRecycle, advancing a shared vision of making Cebu among the first to achieve zero contribution to ocean plastic. By focusing on high-impact intervention points such as creeks and drainage systems, the collaboration aims to significantly reduce plastic leakage at the source.
The project is further strengthened through CCCI’s ongoing collaboration with the Mandaue City Local Government Unit and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Complementing environmental efforts, CCCI earlier donated 30 units of Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) tanks to the city, now deployed as water storage systems across barangay halls. This supports local disaster preparedness while reinforcing the broader goal of building resilient communities.
Mahiga Creek, which runs through Barangay Subangdaku, is a critical waterway that serves as a natural boundary between Mandaue City and Cebu City. It plays a key role in the area’s drainage system but has long been prone to overflow during periods of heavy rainfall. Flooding along M.C. Briones Street and surrounding communities has been a recurring concern, often exacerbated by the accumulation of unmanaged waste that restricts water flow.
Recognizing these challenges, Barangay Subangdaku has been proactive in advancing solid waste management initiatives, including regular clean-up drives, information campaigns, and community-based environmental awareness programs. These sustained efforts help address the root causes of waste leakage while supporting infrastructure interventions such as the floating boom.
Together, these initiatives highlight a model that combines infrastructure, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration: an approach that can be replicated in other areas to address similar environmental challenges.
As the floating boom becomes operational, stakeholders aim to sustain momentum toward cleaner waterways, reduced flood risks, and a stronger culture of shared environmental responsibility across Cebu.
Padayon Cebu!
