Caused by low pressure area, Habagat: Northern Cebu hit by flooding 

CEBU, Philippines — Severe flooding and several landslides caused by unusually heavy rain last Wednesday have affected nine northern Cebu towns and a city, with over 200 individuals preemptively evacuated and several barangay roads temporarily impassable.

The heavy rain that inundated northern Cebu was brought by a Low Pressure Area and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

In San Remigio town, at least 80 individuals were evacuated due to flood, wherein the water entered some houses. The Busugon Avante in the town was impassable temporarily on Wednesday night because of the water.

In Bogo city, nine families were evacuated. Eight of these families were from Barangay Taytayan and one in Barangay Nailon.

“Nisaka ang tubig sa creek, ni-overflow naman sya. Naa na sila gapuyo sa low-lying area. Gipa pre-evacuation daan namo,” said Rex Leoben Ygot, head of Bogo City's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

A road in Don Pedro was temporarily impassable for small vehicles until 10 p.m. because of the flood. In barangay Dakit a portion of the creek overflowed.

Its neighboring town, Daanbantayan, the DRRM said 158 individuals from five barangays -- Poblacion, Talisay, Maya, Bitoon and Pajo evacuated because of the flood.

In Medellin, the road leading to Daanlungsod was also impassable after a tree toppled down.

In Santa Fe, over 50 families were advised to preemptively evacuate as these were living near a swamp, where water would enter the houses especially if there is heavy rainfall.

In Sogod, Maria Alia Zamora, local DRRM officer, said the floods in some of the town's area were just manageable and no other incidents happened. None of the residents there were evacuated.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office’s (PDRRMO) initial report, there were no casualties recorded in the affected areas.

However, some residents who lived near the rivers and low-lying areas in Tabogon, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Santa Fe, and Sogod were forced evacuated by their local DRRMO.

According to PDRRMO spokesperson Wilson Ramos, said the evacuees were assisted by their local social workers and DRRMOs. He said sea trips in Pulambato port in Bogo City were cancelled due to weather condition.

Meanwhile, a portion of the resort was damaged in Binongkalan, Catmon after a sudden landslide on the same day.

According to Catmon DRRMO's report, the riprap of the resort's parking area collapsed, which caused an injury to a construction worker who was allegedly working on the cottage's ceiling when the incident happened.

Catmon DRRMO reported that Ramil Tenio, the 40-year-old construction worker, was immediately brought to Sogod District hospital yesterday.

Owner Pablito Kiamco was advised by their local DRRMO to put on hold the resort's operations while risk is present due to weather condition.

"Sa pagkakaron gi advise-san sa opisina sa Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management ang maong resort sa dili una pagdawat ug mga bisita hangtod dli pa luwas ang maong lugar ilabi na (karong) panahona nga padayon pa ang pag bunok sa ulan tungod sa LPA," stated portion in Catmon DRMM's Facebook post.

Ramos advised the Cebuanos to first consider safety precautionary measures to avoid untoward incidents.

"Pahimangno lang nato sa community is magbinantayon lang ta, maminaw lang g'yud ta sa mga sugyot ug mga hangyo sa mga local officials nato especially sa mga barangay na kung mahimo safety first," he told The Freeman.

He said that the people should be vigilant when going on outings and water adventures and that safety should be their number one priority.

Ramos also said that the LGUs were already informed that in these times of rainy season, river trekking, and swimming in rivers will be prohibited.

"Naa nay mga measures atong mga local DRR especially kanang ting uwan-uwan nga di na gyud pasodlan ang mga river trekking, muadto'g mga falls, o mga kasapaan with regards ana, kay di man ta katag-an diri ubos way uwan, pero sa bukid nag-uwan," he said.

He also said that the local responders are well-capacitated to rescue people during various disasters that might happen, as they underwent prior trainings.

So far, the towns of Poro, Tudela, and San Francisco in Camotes Island reported no major effects of the rainfall.

DRRM officers in northern Cebu continue to monitor their respective areas yesterday but so far, as of writing, situations there went back to normal already.  Families who evacuated have already went home yesterday morning. — Kristin de Dios/RHM (CEBU NEWS)