Pagasa warns of more above-normal rainfall

Cebu has been experiencing more than average rainfall in the past few days.

With this, two mountain barangays of Toong and Buhisan, and the urban barangay of Quiot-Pardo in Cebu City are being closely monitored for flashfloods and landslides.

From July 31 to August 5, total rainfall was already 136 millimeters.

The average total rainfall for August is 145.9 mm, while average total rainfall for July is 187.0 mm.

The trend may continue as July and August are the wettest months in Cebu, said Neil Cardo Fernando, weather specialist of Pagasa Mactan.

Buhisan

Yesterday, the Buhisan barangay council agreed to adopt the ringing of bells as an early warning system in case of a landslide or overflow of the Buhisan Dam.

“Our top priority now is really to be prepared,” Gremar Barete, a councilman, told residents during a public consulation.

Officials of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) reassured that the dam was stable.

No water overflowed into the spillway unlike the situation on Sunday, but water was still overflowing from the crest of the dam.

MCWD general manager Armando Paredes will meet today with department heads to discuss Vice Mayor Edgar Labella’s request to adopt an alarm system for residents.

At present, Buhisan residents would call MCWD by phone to alert them of unsual water levels and it’s up to barangay officials to relay this to neighbors.

” The GM (Paredes) wants to determine if it is feasible to put up an early warning system,” said MCWD information officer Charmaine Rodriguez.

In Buhisan, Barete identified five sitios as highly vulnerable: Eskwelahan, Sandayong, Lower Puti, Dam and Puso.

Of the five, sitio Dam which is closest to the Buhisan Dam is the most flood-prone.

Sitio Sandayong is the most susceptible to landslides based on an assessment of the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7).

Barangay officials were advised to immediately report any ground movements like tension cracks and landslides, and to watch out for any rapid change in water levels or turbidity in the creeks.

The barangay’s sports complex and elementary school were designated as evacuation centers.

The tolling of bells (“bagting”) will be the common early warning system.

“Cellphones and radios are not very reliable. They may have low battery power,” said Councilman Barete.

Barangay officials asked MCWD to maintain water level at 1/4 the dam’s capacity to avoid overflowing in case of a heavy downpour.

Around 300 households residing in the five sitios are at risk of floods or landslides, said barangay chairman Ramil Rago.

The Buhisan Dam operated by MCWD has a capacity of 6,000 to 7,000 cubic meters of water per day.

The recent overflow was a result of the abundant supply coming from upstream rivers which connect to the dam.

Water at the Buhisan dam goes through a discharge pipe to the Tisa filter plant. Any overflow from the dam will go to the Buhisan river located downstream and would discharge into the Kinalumsan River.

The 100-year-old Buhisan Dam contributes about five percent of the MCWD’s daily water production.

Toong updates

The Cebu City government provided housing materials to a family whose house was damaged by a fallen tree in sitio Caulong, barangay Toong last Monday.

Several trees were cut down in Toong as a preventive measure after water-soaked soil gave way last Sunday resulting in the toppling of several trees.

Yesterday, at least six trees were cut down by the Hazardous Tree Response office of City Hall.

Mareli Ortiz a resident of Toong, said this was the first time that a landslide hit the area.

Last Monday, classes were suspended in Toong Elementary School after cracks were found in a classroom for first graders.

Classes resumed yesterday in a makeshift classroom.

Doubleshift classes will be held and the basketball court can be used as well. Forced evacuation

The city disaster office yesterday advised residents of sitio Idyang, barangay Quiot Pardo to be ready to evacuate everytime it rains./Doris C. Bongcac, Joy Cherry Quito with reports from Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and Christine Emily L. Pantaleon