In Metro Cebu: Rains expose weak infra anew

CEBU, Philippines — Rains induced by tropical depression Paeng caused flooding in Metro Cebu’s vulnerable areas yesterday, exposing yet again the metro’s weak infrastructure and drainage systems.

In Mandaue City, flooding was noted in the barangays of Umapad, Jagobiao, Basak, Opao, Subangdaku, Canduman, Pagsabungan and Tipolo.

Because of the floods, traffic in some of these areas went to a standstill.

The upper portion of the Mahiga River, particularly near Citiscape Hotel, also saw a rise in the water level, which even reached the level of the riprap.

Waist-deep flooding was also reported in Barangay Basak late morning yesterday while ankle, knee and hip-deep flooding was observed in the rest of the areas affected before noon due to the persistent rain.

In the morning yesterday, the Mahiga River in Subangdaku overflowed resulting in knee-deep flooding.

Basak Creek also overflowed resulting in knee-deep flooding in Sitio Alliance, as well as knee-deep flooding in Purok Sili, Zone 5 in Canduman.

In Sitios Laray, Alliance and Purok Francisco in Barangay Basak, knee and hip-deep flooding was noted.

There was hip-deep flood reported on RA Ouano Street; and knee-deep flooding in CP Batiller Street in Umapad and J. Ouano Street in Opao.

At around 9:55 a.m. yesterday, a portion of a makeshift warehouse/stockroom of Atlas Metal Industries Corporation located in Barangay Tingub collapsed due to loosening of the soil. The structure is located beside the Butuanon River.

No one was reported hurt in the incident.

At 1:57 in the afternoon, the structure was already extracted and pulled to the surface.

Furthermore, as of 3:25 p.m. yesterday, a total of 64 individuals or 13 families were evacuated due to flooding in Sitio San Lorenzo, Jagobiao. Families were evacuated to Sto. Rosario Chapel.

No casualties and missing persons were reported.

Six individuals and one family were likewise evacuated to Paknaan Gym, Barangay Paknaan. The evacuees were provided with grocery food packs, disaster kits and food.

Meanwhile, due tropical depression Paeng, the 10th cyclone to enter the country, 11 flights coming to and from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport were cancelled.

A flight had been diverted to another airport as of 1 p.m. yesterday.

Also due to inclement weather, some local government units like Talisay, Mandaue, Danao, Liloan and Toledo issued their respective executive orders suspending classes in all levels, both in private and public schools.

Department of Education-7 director Salustiano Jimenez, however, said that only a few municipalities in Cebu cancelled their classes.

No need to wait

In Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama reiterated that schools in the city no longer need the city government’s signal to suspend classes in times of emergencies as they have already been empowered to do so.

Rama said an executive order empowering the schools to do their own declaration was among the first he signed under his fresh term as mayor of the city.

Under EO No.1, school heads and heads of higher educational institutions have been authorized by Rama to suspend classes due to “typhoons, flooding, other weather disturbances and calamities based on need.”

“Urgency-wise, no need of the city government, the suspension can be done… Giitagaan na sila’g empowerment, kami na nuon ilang gipangita?” Rama said in response to reports of some students and parents turning to the city government yesterday on the question of whether there would be classes or not.

The mayor emphasized the need to empower the schools to declare the suspension of classes due to global warming and climate change.

“Kani karong global warming, climate change, dili na na maghuwat pag centralized. Decentralization is the name of the game,” he said.

Some schools in Cebu City suspended classes only in the afternoon despite the heavy flooding in some parts of the city even in the morning. – Caecent N. Magsumbol JMD (FREEMAN)