IN the wake of the flooding experienced in Manila and some parts of Central Luzon, a blue alert status was raised by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Central Visayas.
In an advisory dated yesterday, the office warned the public to “take precautionary measures especially those living in low-lying areas and along mountain slopes.”
The state weather bureau Pag-asa earlier raised the rainfall alert from green to red over Metro Manila as the southwest monsoon or “habagat” continued to deliver heavy rainfall in the metropolis.
Under a blue alert status, medical personnel will be on alert 24 hours to receive emergency cases.
In a press statement regional director Loreto B. Alburo of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB-7) urged local officials to prohibit people from occupying riverbanks and other floodprone areas.
“Let us not be complacent and instead be pro-active when it comes to disaster preparedness and response in order to preserve lives,” Alburo said.
The MGB-7 identified 80 barangays in Cebu as vulnerable to ground failure or flooding.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) in the region were also advised to monitor the situation in their areas of responsibility.
In Cebu City, there were 19 barangays identified as highly susceptible to landslides.
These are barangays Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay,Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, and Adlaon.
Five barangays in Cebu City are considered floodprone like Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, and Bonbon.
In Mandaue City, barangays Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an are identified as floodprone. Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao