ILOILO City – Dozens of villages are expected to bear the brunt of floods that may be brought by heavy rains or typhoons during the wet season, according to the local disaster management council.
The city government plans to organize the barangays as it draws up measures to mitigate floods and prepare communities when they happen, according to City Administrator Hernando Galvez.
City hall formulated “Oplan Tag-Ulan” in compliance with an Interior department memo enjoining all local governments and concerned agencies to undertake actions in preparation for the rainy season.
Part of the operation plan is the de-clogging of canals and drainage systems.
Acknowledging that clogged drainage systems cause flooding, the local government started the de-clogging in initially identified areas on Friday, said Galvez.
“Ang ginmando ni Mayor (Jose) Joe (Espinosa III) i-identify ang mga possible causes sang pagbahâ. Amo ni nga nagpang-de-clog kita,” said the city administrator.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and partner agencies removed debris blocking canals on Delgado and Mabolo streets in City Proper, Galvez said.
Joining the activity were the local Bureau of Fire Protection station, the Iloilo City Police Office and nongovernment organizations, he added.
Galvez said they continue identifying areas with clogged canals – thus, more de-clogging activities will be held in the future.
In a meeting on June 13 the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) – headed by Espinosa – identified at least 55 flood-prone barangays.
Twelve of them are from La Paz district, 13 from Mandurriao, 11 from Jaro, seven from Arevalo, seven from Molo, and five from City Proper.
Identified as flood-prone in La Paz and Lapuz are barangays Aguinaldo, Burgos-Mabini, Divinagracia, Jereos, Lopez Jaena Norte, Lopez Jaena Sur, Ticud, Banuyao, Sinikway, Don Esteban, Alalasan, and Punong.
In Mandurriao are Oñate de Leon, Navais, Calahunan, Airport, San Rafael, Dungon C, Santa Rosa, Taft North, Bolilao, Bakhaw, Pali-Benedicto, Guzman, and Tabucan.
Barangays Calubihan, Desamparados, Dungon A, Dungon B, Tabuc Suba, Quintin Salas, Buntatala, Balabago, San Isidro, Tagbac, and Camalig in Jaro are prone to flooding, the disaster management council said.
Other flood-prone villages are Santa Cruz, Mohon, Santo Domingo, Yulo Drive, Dulonan, San Jose, Sooc in Arevalo; San Juan, Kasing-Kasing, Taal, East Timawa, West Timawa, Katlingban, and Compania Central in Molo; and Zamora Melliza, Rizal Ibarra, General Hughes, Santo Rosario-Duran, and Veterans Village in City Proper.
The CDRRMC’s committee on disaster preparedness is set to meet with district representatives on June 22 to organize the flood-prone villages.
The mayor will then issue a memo directing these barangays to prepare their respective disaster management plans under Oplan Tag-ulan, Galvez said.
“We are expecting 10 to 13 tropical cyclones to occur from June to November,” the city administrator said.
Barangay DRRMCs should “closely coordinate” with the city government, said Espinosa.
Flooding is the most immediate impact of heavy rains in the city.
On the evening of June 8 several roads – mostly in City Proper – were inundated as a result of a sudden downpour.
Some locals had no choice but wade in floodwater to cross streets while others had difficulty getting public rides.
For her part CDRRMO head Donna Magno said they will regularly monitor their early warning system.
“The public must be informed [about any weather disturbance] in advance so they can take action immediately,” Magno said.
Her office will also identify the nearest evacuation centers, she added.
The Interior department directed local chief executives directive to convene their local disaster management councils and conduct pre-disaster risk assessment, especially in areas with high to very high susceptibility to floods, flash floods, rain-induced landslides, and debris flow.
They must “prepare/review/update current contingency plans” and “evaluate if established local preparedness measures are adequate.”
In addition, they should closely coordinate with the state weather bureau for timely weather updates and with the Environment department for information on the threats of flooding and rainfall-induced landslides, the Interior department said./PN
