Thousands evacuated, rescued from homes: massive floods hit Bayawan in Neg Or.

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of residents in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental were rescued and evacuated to safer grounds after massive flooding inundated a large percentage of the city proper yesterday.

Heavy rains that continued uninterrupted for more than 12 hours caused two of the largest rivers in the city – Banga and Pagatban –  to overflow, resulting in knee-deep up to waist high water levels in at least 13 barangays in the city, especially barangays Villareal, Poblacion, Banga, Malabugas, Ubos, Suba and Tinago.

Three persons have been reported missing but OIC provincial police director Supt. Alet Virtucio said reports that their bodies have been recovered have yet to be verified by the police as of press time.

Landslides have also been reported in the barangays of Villareal and Pagatban, as well as in the adjacent town of Sta. Catalina, specifically in Barangay Alangilan. These were, however, immediately cleared by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government after it rendered the national highway impassable since Saturday evening.

Military and civilian volunteers braved heavy rains and strong flood waters to rescue residents trapped in their homes.

Thousands of evacuees are now at temporary shelters, which include the city gymnasium, the Internal Business Center, the St. Augustine Academy campus, the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Catholic Church and the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) campus at the boundary of Villareal in Bayawan City and Caranoche in Sta. Catalina town.

Bayawan City residents said this is the largest flooding incident in many decades.

Aside from the heavy downpour, the flooding worsened when the Banga River changed its course and overflowed to barangays in the city, specifically in Villareal, which sealed off access to the city proper, authorities said.

The river course shifted to Sitio Plywood, Barangay Ubos, then  on to the diversion road and lower Natit-an and finally on to Barangay Villareal and Barangay Tinago, which sealed off Bayawan City from those headed there, said city police chief Sr. Insp. Nenette Vibares.

Bayawan City police personnel have been on duty for 24 hours since Saturday as the flooding prevented off-duty officers from reporting for work, said Sr. Insp. Vibares.

The Philippine Army’s 6x6 trucks managed to ferry people across the flooded streets in Villareal while others rode bancas and other small boats.

Governor Roel Degamo had requested for two helicopters through the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, confirmed that the Philippine Air Force based in Mactan, Cebu committed to deploy two UH-1H helicopters to Bayawan City but the plan did not materialize due to zero visibility.

The Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has already initially sent 45 sacks of rice to Bayawan while the city government has enough food stuffs for distribution to the evacuees, according to PDRRMC director Adrian Sedillo.

Bayawan City parish priest Fr. Frank Bomediano said except for one mass at 6 a.m. all other masses were cancelled for the day as only a handful of parishioners came to church due to the flooding. The priest said they are helping out by cooking rice, provided by the local social welfare office, to be delivered to the evacuation centers.

As of press time, 79th Infantry Battalion reported that among the needs of the evacuees are drinking water and food.

Meanwhile, other areas in Negros Oriental are monitoring the water levels of major rivers as rains still continue.

Sta. Catalina Mayor Nathaniel Electona said all barangays in the town are already heavily flooded. Chest-deep floods have been reported in Barangay Caranoche.

Tanjay Mayor Boy Teves, on the other hand, already told residents of the 10 barangays near the Tanjay River to monitor the water level, as Pamplona Mayor Apollo Arnaiz reported that the water level of the Tanjay River, which originates from Pamplona, is rising rapidly. The Canaway and Siaton rivers are also being closely monitored.

Department of Education Negros Oriental chief Salustiano Jimenez announced that schools in affected areas can suspend classes but asked administrators and principals to inform his office about class suspensions. — with Raffy Cabristante, Jessa Agua and Ria May Booc /QSB (FREEMAN)