Floods submerge 1,500 houses

Settlers in the Paknaan relocation site have another hard day ahead clearing their lots of floodwater and mud.

Another day of rain caused the Butuanon River to overflow and flood the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City, submerging 1,500 homes in mud and floodwaters.

Zones Sili, Talong and Ahos, which are the most densely populated areas facing east of Barangay Paknaan, were among the hardest hit of the floods since they absorb the rainwater coming from Cebu City’s hinterland areas.

“Mohangyo lang intawon mi sa mayor nga hatagan unta og kasulbaran ning among kahimtang dinhi kay morag delikado man hinoon mi diri kaysa didto sa among gipuy-an sa una (We appeal to the mayor to help us out of our situation here as it seems we are in more danger here than where we lived before),” said 67-year-old Leoncio Tariman, a resident of the relocation site.

Tariman said he and the settlers experienced eight floodings last year and seven so far this year.

In his State of the City Address (SOCA), Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said there won’t be any drainage project in the city unless an upgraded drainage master plan is in place.

The city government is still working on upgrading the drainage master plan that was finalized during the tenure of former mayor and now Rep. Jonas Cortes of Cebu’s 6th district.

Quisumbing earlier said they were also waiting for the delivery of an amphibious dredger to clear the mouth of Mahiga and Butuanon River.

There was riprapping done at the Pacific Mall to Cambogaong Bridge in Barangay Paknaan as part of the rehabilitation of Butuanon river, and the area was spared from flooding unlike the settlers in the relocation site.

Settlers had to deal with clearing their lots of mud and floodwater every time a downpour occurs.

Several of them also risk losing their furniture and appliances especially during a heavy downpour.