Evacuation of residents Mandaue to use force when needed

CEBU, Philippines -  The Mandaue City government will evacuate residents by force when necessary should they be affected by heavy rains as typhoon Ramon makes a landfall tonight.

Yesterday, the Mandaue City Council approved the resolution endorsed by the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Team to declare Mandaue under state of calamity so that it maybe able to access its calamity fund.

The endorsement actually came after several barangays in the city was flooded after a heavy downpour last October 7, especially barangays Tabok, Basak, Subangdaku, Banilad, Guizo, Mantuyong, Paknaan, Cabancalan and Tingub.

Floodwaters rose up to 10 feet.

The city’s Dept. of Social Welfare Services reported 19,992 families from 16 barangays affected by the flood.

City officials called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police to be on standby for possible evacuations.

In a meeting called by City Administrator James Abadia and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Ernie Manatad, all barangay captains and City Hall department heads agreed to implement a force evacuation when needed. 

City officials observe that affected residents often call for help only when the water has reached critical level or when it is too high for them to manage to flee. Barangay captains will determine if a force evacuation will have to be enforced.

Yesterday, Abadia ordered to activate the volunteer brigades from the city’s 27 barangays. Eco-wardens have also been tapped to help in rescue and evacuation operations.

Mario Perez, head of the Accident Control Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT), said that he has already assigned his men to keep an eye on five cluster barangays as early as the other night. His men will be on call, he said.

These cluster barangays will serve as the operation and communication centers in the event of a disaster.

Cluster 1 includes the Kabukiran group under which are the mountain barangays of Casili, Cubacub, Canduman, Tawason, Pagsabungan, Jagobiao, and Basak.

Cluster 2 covers the Butuanon group composed of barangays near the Butuanon River, including Barangays Cabancalan, Tingub, Casuntingan, Tabok and Maguikay.

Cluster 3 covers the Mahiga Creek barangays composed of Barangays Banilad, Bakilid, Tipolo and Subangdaku.

Cluster 4 covers the Kadagatan group composed of Barangays Labogon, Paknaan, Umapad and Opao.

Cluster 5 includes Barangays Centro, Ibabao-Estancia, Cambaro, Looc , Guizo, Alang-alang  and Mantuyong.

Cluster barangays are urged to fuel their generator sets and get their fiber glass pump boats ready for evacuation efforts.

 Also in yesterday’s meeting, city officials agreed that churches, schools and gymnasiums will be used as temporary relocation sites when necessary. Dump trucks and other city-owned vehicles are now on standby at the Mandaue City Sports Complex and Cultural Center. — (FREEMAN)