Leyte and Southern Leyte: 16 rescued from floodwaters

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines  – Authorities have rescued 15 people and one infant who were trapped by the rising Lawigan River in Barangay Carnaga of St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte at around 1 p.m. Monday.

Marichu Tan, Office of the Civil Defense officer-in-charge, said they were rescued after they failed to cross the river, which was at a critical level of as high as three meters.

Residents in flood prone areas in Barangay Mahayahay, also in St. Bernard, were put on preempted evacuation, said Tan adding that about 74 families or 275 people from flood- and landslide-prone areas have been housed in four evacuation centers already.

Floods from incessant heavy rains have also struck Maasin City and the towns of Bato and Sogod, all in Southern Leyte, and the towns of Mahaplag, Palo, Julita and Abuyog, all in Leyte.

In Abuyog, Councilor Bimboy Sy told The Freeman that an 18-hour downpour since Monday has caused three big rivers—Layug, Bito and Higasaan—to overflow resulting in waist-deep floods around the entire town at about 2 a.m. yesterday.

There were neither heavy damages nor injuries nor casualties however, but an estimated million-worth of agricultural lands and products have been destroyed, said Sy.

Electricity, which stopped during the floods, has been restored in the town at around 3 p.m. yesterday, and that floodwaters had already receded at about the same time, he said.

The councilor said there is no need to put the town under a state of calamity, but the Municipal Council will be holding an emergency session today to decide on the possible assistance the local government can provide to any family affected by the flooding.

Sy said that Abuyog, which is the home of the famous Buyugan Festival, has enough disaster relief and rescue facilities although it still needs more to contain damages of possible bigger calamities in the future.

When asked about possible causes of flooding, Sy said it was the non-stop heavy rains that did it and he declared there has been no more illegal logging in Abuyog, as was the case in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

Sy said the indiscriminate logging practices in the past are now gone due to strict implementation of the laws by DENR-8 personnel, following the order of Mayor Octavio Traya Jr to apprehend whoever may be involved in the illegal activity. (FREEMAN)