CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 153 persons have been evacuated since Tuesday afternoon from Barangays Duljo, Mambaling and Tisa in Cebu City after their houses were flooded following heavy rains that had caused rivers to overflow.
Four houses in Sitio Caduloy, Tisa, were destroyed by floodwaters while two street children under the bridge on Panganiban Street were rescued after the floods rose.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, set an emergency meeting with CCDRMC on Wednesday to discuss his proposal for forcibly relocating families living along the Kinalumsan and Guadalupe rivers.
Rumors circulated that the unannounced opening of Buhisan Dam had caused the two big rivers to overflow.
But Tumulak immediately denied this on Tuesday night, saying the flood was caused by heavy downpour in the mountain areas.
As of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 109 individuals were evacuated to the Mambaling Sports Complex and 43 to the Tisa Sports Complex.
In Mambaling, Barangay Captain Wilfredo Go said the evacuees came not just from his barangay but also from Duljo.
Around 4 pm., the water level at the Kinalumsan Bridge along the N Bacalso Avenue (near CITOU) overflowed, affecting the portion of Sitios Itik of Duljo and Camansilis of Mambaling.
Some families had to punch holes in their roofs to get out of their flooded homes and be rescued because the pathway in their area was already flooded.
Go confirmed that at least 30 families or more than 100 individuals from those sitios have been evacuated to Mambaling sports complex.
Go said Department of Social Welfare and Services chief Ester Concha has ordered the delivery of food packs for the evacuees.
Go said four other sitios in his barangay (village) — Tinabangay, Huyonghuyong, Lawis and Bayking — were affected by low-level floods but the residents stayed home.
In Sitio Caduloy Tisa, Councilor Tumulak said four houses were destroyed by floodwaters but the occupants were already out of their houses when the floods came.
The occupants of those houses and their neighbors evacuated because the floodwaters had reached the floor of their houses.
Kinalumsan River runs from Buhisan and Guadalupe area towards Labangon, Tisa and Mambaling-Duljo area.
Guadalupe River runs from from Gudalupe Sapangdaku, Pahina Central or in Colon area going to Pasil.
At least 30 families live along the Kinalumsan River and around 100 families along the stretch of Guadalupe River.