■ HEAVY RAIN CAUSES FLOODS IN 4 CITIES, TOWNS, AS WELL AS LANDSLIDES; RAIN STILL EXPECTED TODAY, SAYS PAGASA
Province suspended classes in both elementary and high school levels in all public and private schools, while Mandaue City suspended classes only in public schools; no word yet if classes are suspended today Neck-deep waters reported in some barangays of
Local officials had no time for a break after the Sinulog activities. Heavy rain caused floods and landslides in at least four towns and cities, forcing officials to send rescue teams. Two persons—a five-year-old girl and an 18-year-old fisherman—died in the City of Naga. In Cebu City, eight barangays reported landslides, including Sirao, where parts of the road broke apart as the ground under it subsided. The weather bureau Pagasa said that about 360,000 barrels of rainwater soaked Cebu yesterday, and that the tail end of a cold front would bring more rain today. Get your rain gear ready.
The heavy downpour yesterday caused landslides and flooding in certain parts of Cebu Province and Cebu City.
According to the weather bureau Pagasa, an equivalent of 360,000 barrels of water fell in Mandaue City, City of Naga, Aloguinsan and Argao, among others.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) conducted clearing operations in Aloguinsan after a landslide struck the southwestern town.
Jules Regner of PDRRMO also reported flooding in Barangays Esperanza and Bojo after the town's spillway overflowed.
In Argao, Kent Rizon of the local disaster risk reduction management office said they monitored the town's river to prevent casualties in case it overflowed.
Pagasa Mactan Chief Al Quiblat said the amount of rain that fell yesterday was equivalent to the rainfall Cebu received during the whole month of April last year.
He said the rain, which is due to the tail-end of a cold front, will continue today.
The Provincial Government suspended classes in both elementary and high school levels in all public and private schools, while the Mandaue City Government suspended classes only in public schools.
As of press time, the Province and Mandaue City did not suspend today's classes as they will continue to monitor the situation.
In Mandaue City, the flood affected 500 families in Barangays Cabancalan, Canduman, Alang-alang, Casuntingan, Tingub, Paknaan, Maguikay, Tabok and Umapad.
Water in some areas was neckdeep as the Butuanon River and the Mahiga Creek overflowed its banks.
In Paknaan, Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) team visited the areas that were badly hit, such as the 6.5-hectare relocation site, to move families to higher ground as early as 8 a.m.
Lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, the mayor's chief of staff, said roads were not affected.
“We focused on areas near rivers and creeks because water from Cebu City and other areas end up in Mandaue,” Bathan said in Cebuano.
In a separate interview, CDRRM Officer Felix Suico told SunStar
Cebu that 300 families in Zones Talong, Sili and Ahos in Paknaan were evacuated to the Vamo multipurpose building and the Paknaan Elementary School.
“We prioritized children, mothers, elderly and pregnant women,” Suico said in Cebuano.
He said there is riprap project in the barangay to protect families when the Butuanon River overflows but this is not yet completed.
According to records of the CDRRMO, 17 families were affected in Canduman, 63 in Alang-alang and 25 families and 15 individuals in Tabok.
Evacuees in Tabok were sent to the Tabok National High School, Bathan said.
Affected individuals in Maguikay were also moved to the Maguikay Elementary School.
Families from other affected barangays were moved to higher ground.
The evacuees were given food and assistance.
“I'm advising residents near rivers and creeks not to be complacent. I will implement forced evacuation if I see that people will be in danger,” Suico said.