When Typhoon Tino dumped days’ worth of rain across Cebu, the city once again faced familiar scenes, streets turning into rivers, cars stalled mid-road, and residents wading through murky floodwaters. But in the middle of it all, one place quietly held its ground: Cebu Business Park (CBP).
While nearby areas struggled with flash floods, CBP stayed surprisingly dry. It wasn’t luck, it was planning done right. The CBP Redevelopment Project, launched back in 2022, has been upgrading the business district’s drainage and infrastructure to make it stronger and more climate-ready. And this week, we saw exactly why that investment matters.
Not Just Another Construction Project
CBP’s ongoing redevelopment isn’t your usual “cosmetic upgrade.” It’s a multi-phased mission to modernize everything from underground drainage pipes to catch basins and stormwater outflows. The goal? To build a community that can handle growth and storms, literally.
While many areas of Cebu were dealing with ankle-deep floods after Typhoon Tino, CBP’s newly upgraded system kept the business district’s roads clear and functional. Residents and office workers barely noticed what could’ve been another major flood event.
The Difference Between Reaction and Preparation
Here’s the thing, Cebu isn’t new to flood control projects. Billions have been poured into drainage systems across the city. Yet every major storm seems to prove that something’s still not right. Pipes clog, projects stall, and floodwaters rise.
CBP shows what can happen when planning isn’t just on paper. Its management didn’t wait for another disaster to happen. They studied drainage maps, upgraded weak spots, and coordinated with the community. That’s proactive urban management, not just a post-typhoon cleanup.
What the Rest of Cebu Can Learn
CBP’s progress is a wake-up call. If one community can future-proof itself, so can others. The formula isn’t complicated, consistent upgrades, transparent communication, and long-term vision. Instead of quick fixes, it’s about investing in systems that actually work when the skies open up.
With climate change bringing stronger and more frequent typhoons, Cebu needs more than drainage promises. It needs working models, and CBP is showing us one right now.
Building the Cebu We Deserve
CBP isn’t perfect, construction is still ongoing, and yes, there are moments of inconvenience. But when Typhoon Tino came, the results spoke for themselves. The area stayed safe, dry, and operational, proving that resilience starts from preparation, not panic.
If Cebu wants to stop flooding every year, maybe it’s time we stop looking elsewhere for solutions and start learning from within. Because sometimes, the best example of progress is already right in our backyard.
