Cebuanos told to be careful with constant raining
Not only should Cebuanos not forget to bring their umbrellas over the weekend; for those living in hilly lands, they must also watch out for possible landslides.
According to Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the committee on public order and safety, the incessant rains in Cebu the past few days have led to landslides prompting him to issue a call to the city’s residents not to take any chances though no one was reported hurt in the incidents.
“We are informing the public nga dili magkumpyansa (not to be complacent) with these rains since we are prone to landslides especially since it’s been raining for two days already,” Tumulak said adding that barangay officials were ordered to immediately report any untoward incidents brought about by the recent rains.
Tumulak also asked village officials to check if there are trees in their areas in danger of toppling and to immediately report this to the Cebu City Command Control Center (C3) for assistance.
At least three different landslides were reported in Cebu City since Wednesday in the mountain villages of Sudlon I, Budlaan and Kalunasan.
“We were already able to clear the landslides in Sudlon I, as well as, in Kalunasan which was just minor. The one in Budlaan is still being checked and assessed as to what solution we can do,” Tumulak said.
City-owned heavy equipment, according to Tumulak, are already on standby especially in the mountain barangays to prepare for possible landslides.
Tumulak has also met with members of the Parish Security Group (PSG) in order to tap them in monitoring incidents and suspicious activities in areas, especially near churches, chapels and parishes.
Over at the Provincial Capitol, the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said PDRRMO is monitoring the low pressure area (LPA) located 360 km. east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and will conduct a “text blast” to warn Cebu municipalities to be prepared if Cebu’s weather condition worsens over the weekend.
Tribunalo assured that all towns already have contingency plans in case of storms, rains and floods which will be undertaken by the local disaster council of each municipality.
“Our reference is Pagasa. Once they have a forecast unya kanang barangay diha sa usa ka municipality maoy dunay kosog kaayong uwan, mag text blast nata, atong pahibaw-on ang mayor ug ang ilahang local disaster council aron sila ka prepare, (if a certain barangay in the town will have strong rains, we will conduct a text blast to inform the mayor and their local disaster council to prepare)” Tribunalo said adding that the province now has 27 emergency response teams which can be quickly dispatched.
At least two landslides were reported yesterday morning in Cebu province affecting the flow of traffic in Talisay City and the town of Dalaguete, southern Cebu.
The rains caused loose soil from the mountains to block a portion of Manipis Road in Talisay City about 11 a.m. Thursday which forced vehicles passing through the area to take turns in using the road’s outer lane bound for Campo 5, said Manipis barangay councilor Roberto Olivar.
Around the same, a landslide was also reported at the Ablayan-Maluray road in Dalaguete, leaving at least 10 vehicles stranded on the road which was partly covered with soil.
Dalaguete information officer Rydal Cisneros said the road was immediately cleared of the landslide.
Pagasa
Pagasa Visayas director Oscar Tabada said Cebu and the rest of the Visayas will experience mild to moderate rains until Monday as a result of the LPA in Mindanao; there is very little possibility that the LPA would develop into a tropical depression.
“Ang ato lang ani kay mahimong uwanon ang tibuok semana (Our only concern is that rains may persist for the rest of the week),” he said.
Tabada is asking local disaster groups to be on alert for any eventuality that may result from the rains.
Coastal waters are expected to remain light to moderate.
“Dili dagku ang bawd kay hinay ra man ang hangin (The waves will not be big because the winds will be light),” he said.
Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Agapito Bibat said that in the absence of any gale warning, sea travel by inter-island vessels will remain normal and it will be left to the discretion of ship captains whether or not to suspend trips for the safety of passengers.
Bibat, however, appealed to pumpboat operators to refrain from going out to sea.
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