In Zamboanga City, heavy rains caused widespread floods

Inquirer files

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines — Heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” caused widespread flooding in Zamboanga City on Saturday.

Most of the affected families returned home on Sunday but the city disaster risk reduction and management office (CDRRMO) continued to keep watch of the city’s flood-prone areas as rains continued to persist.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Sunday said Zamboanga City would still experience light to moderate rains due to the southwest monsoon.

READ: Flooded Mindanao areas need help

The weather bureau was also closely watching a low-pressure area, which at 3 p.m. was estimated at 220 kilometers east-northeast of Infanta, Quezon, or 215 km east of Baler, Aurora. The habagat was affecting the rest of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Pagasa said.

The CDRRMO said most of the 1,400 families who fled at the height of flooding in six Zamboanga City villages on Saturday returned to their homes after waters in their areas subsided, but 681 families were still in shelters.

The CDRRMO remained on alert in case the river waters would rise again, as rains continued.

Families who evacuated Saturday afternoon came from the villages of Cabatangan, Pasonanca, Ayala, Tumaga, Guiwan, and Tugbungan.

The displaced families temporarily took refuge in several barangay evacuation centers and were provided relief assistance by the social welfare and development office.

The CDRRMO raised a blue alert since Friday due to the inclement weather.

Damaged spillway

In Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte, raging waters brought by heavy rains on Saturday damaged a spillway in Barangay Pangian that was built as a detour route after a bridge that spanned across Pangian River was damaged by a flash flood in 2023. The bridge is still being repaired.

Efraem Roldan, municipal information officer of Sibuco, said the recent spillway damage rendered the detour route impassable to all types of vehicles as of Saturday morning.

Owing to this, local authorities advised the public to avoid passing through the affected route.

Authorities also advised local residents not to try crossing the damaged spillway to avoid untoward incidents. /cb