Rains cause neck-deep floods, ground movement

CEBU, Philippines - Thunderstorms brought by the southwest monsoon caused massive flooding and landslide Saturday evening in several parts of Cebu City, with floodwaters in downtown and even uptown areas reaching knee and neck levels.

The rains also caused soil to erode in one barangay, causing a road block.

City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) operations head Joy Tumulak said areas greatly affected by the rains that lasted almost five hours included San Roque Mambaling, Natasha Urot, Colon, Leon Kilat, Ma. Gochan, Mactan Road, J. Luna avenue, A. Soriano, General Maxilom Avenue, M. J. Cuenco Avenue, Bonifacio, Sikatuna. Junquera,  Sanciangko, barangay Day-as and barangay Mabolo.

 In Kalunasan, four houses with eight families sought the help of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) through the barangay officials fearing strong currents of flood waters might take their houses and endanger their lives.

"We received a call from barangay asking for assistance to rescue the settlers at the Guadalupe riverbanks. We were informed that their houses were affected by the erosion but when we got there, the wa ter already went down so they were already safe," Alvin Santillana of CDRRMO said.

Santillana pointed out that the problems were of settlers whose houses are already within the three meter easement zone.

"Eversince I started as an employee of the City Government in 2003, it has been the position of the City Hall that the settlers must evacuate and leave the area for their own safety especially during rainy season," he added.

When residents asked that the tree right beside the houses at the river banks be removed fearing that it might fall off and destroy their houses, Santillana rather explained to them that removing it would endanger them because of risk of more soil erosion.

The road leading to Buhisan Dam in barangay Buhisan was also blocked Saturday evening due to soil that eroded right above, blocking vehicles and residents from passing the area near the barangay hall.

Santillana said that barangay officials have initiated the clearing operations and the eroded soil was removed from the road shortly after. He noted that Saturday's heavy rains that started 6:16 in the evening and ended 11:07 recorded 44 millimeters of rainfall as opposed to the normal and safe level of 10 millimeters.

Even City Hall employees were not spared from the flooding caused by heavy rains, creating traffic congestion until past midnight.

Santillana said his room in his house was also dripping with water but had to set it aside to respond to flooding and landslide alarms.

The house of CITOM executive director Atty. Rafael Yap along Blessed John Pope II Avenue was also affected with neck deep flood waters entering their two-storey home.

"Around 8 pm, the wall in our house collapsed and the water reached neck level. We had to call the BFPO (Bureau of Fire Protection) for rescue since my grandmother was bedridden. She's okay but we admitted her to a hospital for safety," Yap narrated, saying three cars including the city issued vehicle were also flooded.

He added that while their house is frequented by flooding, being near the main road, last Saturday was the first time it reached neck deep since most of the time the water is only ankle or knee level.

In barangay Kasambagan, four houses near Mahiga Creek were reportedly swept away from strong floodwater currents totally

destroying houses but fortunately left settlers unharmed.

Component departments and offices of the city disaster quick response team including law enforcement agencies like BFP and PNP as well as volunteer rescue personnel conducted rescue operations and roving patrols while the city was flooding.

Mayor Michael Rama, who just arrived yesterday from Manila, called for an emergency meeting with the team to report to him the extent of the flooding as well how it was addressed.

The mayor was not able to personally witness the flooding because he attended the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) general assembly and election of officers Friday, July 19.

In a press conference after the meeting, Rama thanked all his employees as well as the government agencies and private volunteers for working hard on a weekend to respond to flooding that affected almost all of urban Cebu city. — /JPM (FREEMAN)