ILOILO – Floodwaters triggered by heavy rains over the past two days swamped several areas in the province’s eight towns and one component city.
Dr. Jerry Bionat, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said there was flooding in San Rafael, San Enrique, Sara, Passi City, Ajuy, Banate, Batad, Bingawan, and San Dionisio.
Most of the submerged areas were rice fields and those near riverbanks.
“Nagdalalom ang mga talamnanan sa San Rafael, Sara, Passi City, Ajuy, Banate, Batad, Bingawan, San Enrique, and San Dionisio. Affected ang pananum nga humay,” said Bionat.
In San Enrique, local authorities reported three flooded villages – Compo, Mapili and Palje.
Floodwaters in these villages rose to hip level within a couple of hours when heavy rains poured, residents said.
At least 15 families or 78 individuals from Barangay Compo’s Sitio Morobuan were moved to evacuation centers around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
As soon as floodwaters receded around 4 a.m. yesterday, the evacuees returned to their respective houses.
As of Thursday night, Bionat said no other major incidents or casualties or injuries were reported due to the flooding.
“Because of climate change, lain na gid. Sing una nga magsiling ka tig-adlaw, tig-adlaw gid. Subong ya nagabaha,” Bionat added.
Based on latest meteorological surveys by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa), the trough or extension of a low-pressure area (LPA) in the vicinity of Albay caused rains in the Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas regions.
Pagasa weather specialist Shelly Ignacio, however, said the LPA is less likely to develop into a tropical depression.
Localized thunderstorms, on the other hand, will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers in Mindanao and the rest of Visayas for the coming days.
On Thursday morning, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. conducted an ocular inspection at the municipality of San Enrique.
“Nagkadto lang kita sa San Enrique to check the situation. No casualties. Ang baha halin sa bukid,” Defensor said.
The local government unit of San Enrique has yet to submit its final report on the damage to rice paddies or palay.
“We are waiting for their assessment. Mapreparar kita sang bulig sa mga nabaha–an, especially sa agricultural aspect,” said Defensor./PN
