Rama names Daluz anti-flood czar

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday ordered the clearing of illegal structures that block waterways which authorities say was one of the primary reasons why Metro Cebu experienced one of the worst flooding in years on Saturday night.

“We may not be able to eliminate the risk, but we can immediately reduce it,” the mayor said last night in a news conference he called immediately after convening the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

He said an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 informal settler families who live along the banks of the Mahiga creek, Guadalupe river and Parian estero would be affected by the renewed drive to unclog the waterways in a bid to improve the city’s drainage system and prevent a repeat of the massive flooding following a heavy downpour that stranded hundreds of commuters and motorists who were out for a weekend stroll.

Rama designated Councilor Joey Daluz to lead the city’s anti-flood campaign.

The mayor said he will convene a meeting at City Hall today to discuss the flood mitigation action plan.

Alvin Santillana, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC), said barangay officials should be more vigilant and prevent illegal settlers from building structures in waterways.

“Barangay officials must be vigilant enough to guard the waterways from illegal settlers,” he said.

Santillana said they were not remiss on their duty to warn the illegal settlers especially along the Mahiga Creek to leave the area for their own safety.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, who heads the Basak Pardo Emergency Rescue (BPER), said the structures that were illegally built along the rivers and creeks greatly affected the flow of water resulting in the overflowing of the river.

“Nigamay naman atong sapa ug ang uban nawala na tungod sa structures (Our waterways have narrowed down while some even disappeared because of these structures),” he said.

The Saturday downpour which started at 6:16 p.m and lasted until 11:07 p.m. dumped 44 millimeters of rainwater which state weatherman Oscar Tabada said was abnormally high. A millimeter is equivalent to 5,000 barrels. The flood fully subsided past 2 a.m. Sunday.

The heavy rains and massive flooding in many areas including those that were not usually affected by floods resulted in a total mayhem in the city’s streets.

Six cars were involved in a multiple collision while one car was swept away by rampaging water in Gemsville Subdivision in barangay Lahug, Cebu City. A taxicab that was abandoned by its driver caused heavy traffic at the North Reclamation Area.

Five houses in sitio Paray in barangay Kasambagan were inundated while six houses made of light materials were destroyed in barangay Panagdait.

Eight houses in barangay Kalunasan were damaged due to a landslide.

A total of 29 adults and 15 children were evacuated from their houses in the Kinalumsan Bridge in barangay Mambaling and were taken to the barangay hall.

Seven houses were destroyed after a perimeter wall of a school collapsed in sitio Paray in barangay Kasambagan.

Renato Bercede, 52, said he was trapped for 20 minutes inside his house as the wall started to collapse.

“I heard the wall crack as I was about to sleep,” he said

He was able to escape by jumping out of the window.

As the wall collapsed, he was looking for a way where he could get out and immediately jumped over the window.

Bercede said it was the first time that such thing happened in the 40 years that he lived in the area.

He claims that the wall which was constructed two years ago had a weak foundation.

At least three houses were destroyed by a landslide that struck 9 p.m. Saturday in sitio Lower Puti in the mountain barangay of Buhisan, Cebu City.

Aneth Cabornay, 37 said she was having dinner with her husband when a neighbor alerted them that part of their house had collapsed.

“Nibalhin dayon mi sa pikas balay sa akong ugangan (We immediately moved to my in-laws’ house next door),” she said.  /with Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and UP Cebu interns Victor Anthony V. Silva and Christine Estrella /Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Jose Santino Bunachita, Correspondents with Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and UP Cebu interns Victor Anthony V. Silva and Christine Estrella