Declogging, mitigation plans sought from LGUs

Last Tuesday’s rainfall is seen to usher in the rainy season in Cebu province along with an increased incidence of flooding and landslides in riverbanks and mountain barangays, a Capitol official said yesterday.

Neil Sanchez, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management (PDRRM) officer, said Cebu was ranked number 8 in the top 10 landslide prone areas by the Mines and Geo-science Bureau (MGB). As such, Sanchez said local government units (LGUs) should maximize their local disaster risk reduction preparedness fund to prioritize flood and landslide mitigation rather than emergency operations.

“Even if nothing is happening so far, the LGUs can use the fund for mitigating purposes like rip-rapping, repairing of sea walls, buying rescue equipment and information campaigns,” Sanchez said.

“What is good for this fund is that you can add the unspent amount to next year year’s fund,” Sanchez added.

He said their office is giving hazard and risk maps to all affected LGUs.

In Metro Cebu, Mandaue City is prone to flooding, while Danao City is prone to both flooding and landslide.

Talisay City is said to be vulnerable to storm surge, flooding and landslide while Toledo City is prone to both landslides and flooding.

The landslide prone barangays in Cebu City are Lusuran, Binialiw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sudlon II, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku and Adlaon.

Barangays Kasambagan, Kinsang-an Labangon, Mabolo and Bonbon are also prone to landslides.

For its part, the Mactan office of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Cebu said they recorded 10 mm of rainfall in less than an hour after 11 a.m yesterday.

Acting Pagasa chief Alfredo Quiblat said yesterday’s rainfall was caused by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Metro Cebu LGUs are preparing their respective contingency plans for the onset of the rainy season with next week’s school opening in mind.

Cathy Yso, executive director of the Cebu City Risk Reduction Management Council (CCRRMC), said their priority is to clean up drainage systems and dengue prevention in the barangay level.

“So, hopefully if there will be floods the damage will be minimal,” Yso said.

She said they’ve been cleaning up canals in the past two months and they will continue to do so until August.

Yso said the City Health Office will assist barangays in dengue mitigation measures to lower cases for this year.

Settlers in riverbanks and landslide prone areas will also be relocated, she said.

In Mandaue City, the city government is helping clean up 49 public schools.

City Administrator James Abadia said they are also de-clogging canals in flood-prone areas such as Highway Seno.

Emergency numbers are also posted in police precincts and hospitals for the public, he said. Abadia said they are looking for partners to build more classrooms for students.

Abadia said the Department of Education is elevating flood-prone schools like Guizo Elementary School, Basak Elementary School and Tipolo National High School ahead of the rainy season. CNU Intern Jeanymae Ardiente and Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos