CCDRRMO official tells public to avoid rivers

CEBU, Philippines — The head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) is advising everyone to be extra cautious and avoid get-togethers and swimming in rivers and attempt river crossings during the rainy days, to avoid any untoward incident.

This, as the department is put on alert with the onset of rain and the coming of the La Nin~a weather phenomenon.

Harold Alcontin, CCDRRMO head, said going on outings involving rivers is very risky, with the kind of weather we are having now.

“Nanghinaot mi nga ato osa nang likayan…mag outing outing ta sa kasapaan…. Dako kaayo nga risgo kay naa usahay di ta kabantay nga didto diay sa bukid pwerteng uwana unya diri sa ato wala,” he said.

He also urged everyone to monitor the weather and pay special attention to the rivers, as a lesson learned from past incidents of drowning and people being swept away by a sudden deluge of water from the mountains rushing downstream.

“Monitor lang ta sa weather labi na sa kasapaan. Daghan na kaayong insidente all over the Pilipinas…nga nangabanlas sila kay nipugos sila’g agi…labang, gipugos nila’g anha sila mangaligo diha pero wa naghunahuna nga nga tua sa bukid nag-uwan,” he said through Cebu City’s Public Information Office.

Alcontin, however, also assured that the CCDRMO is ready to respond to any emergency situation.

“Ang barangay responders karon naa na tay 800 ka buok, nga naa gyud sa ilang barangay. Every barangay naay napulo ka buok plus naa pa tay volunteers, nya naa sad ta sa atoa sa Disaster katong mga QRT (Quick Response Team) nato,” he said.

Alcontin said they have already prepared as early as April in anticipation of the usual pattern that after El Nin~o La Nina would follow, and also based on the advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.

CCDRMO has also followed the checklist from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on what to prepare, especially on equipment, with the City’s Department of Engineering and Public Works.

Alcontin said that his office has already put it place warning signages landslide-prone areas and water level gauges in flood-prone areas, as indicated by the DILG.

“El Niño pa ato na nang gibutang daan (ang signages), unya kani atong water level gauges, kanang naa sa mga kasapaan nga naa mamonitor nato pirmi nisaka na ba ang tubig sa sapa. Every bridge makit-an ninyo naa nay mga level gauges,” he said.

“So, mao nay bantayan sa atong barangay-based responders, kung nisaka na ang (tubig sa) sapa. Anha ta diha kung kinahanglan ba og preemptive evacuation or total evacuation gyud,” he added.

CCDRRMO is also conducting information and education campaign as well as regular visits by barangay-based responders in flood and landslide-prone areas.

Among the flood-prone areas in the city are barangays Bonbon, Kalunasan, Guadalupe, Pardo, Tejero, Tinago, and Carreta as well as the Highway Tagunol, Colon St., and Bonifacio St. areas.

The landslide-prone areas, on the other hand, are barangays Binaliw, Bacayan, Pulaangbato, Agsungot, Guba, Babag, Pung-ol Sibugay, and Sirao. — (FREEMAN)