Cebu PDRRMO urges public to stay alert amid landslide, flood

A landslide occurred in this portion of Lower Kawasan in Barangay Montpeller, Alegria town in southwestern Cebu on Tuesday morning, August 9, 2022. The ground became saturated, and eventually eroded, due to incessant rains in the past days. | Photos from Alegria MDRRMO

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Non-stop rains in Cebu may have stopped but local authorities here urged the public to remain vigilant of their surroundings and monitor their weather situation.

Two days since the incessant downpour in the island province ceased, several localities here continue to report landslides and damaged infrastructure.

In turn, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised residents to practice caution and report any eventualities immediately to nearby authorities.

Wilson Ramos, PDRRMO interim officer, also told the public to follow instructions from their local officials, especially during evacuation and rescue operations. 

“Hangyo nako sa mga local communities nga maminaw ta sa atong mga LDRRMOs (Local DRRMO) ug barangay,” said Ramos.

He also directed local disaster and rescue units to be on alert, and continually monitor their localities. 

“Expect lang ta nga we will keep on monitoring sa mga LGUs (local government units). Kung kusog gyud ang uwan, mo buhat og preemptive evacuation labi na kadtong affected sa pagbaha,” Ramos added. 

Local disaster and rescue units from affected towns and cities in Cebu province attributed the recent landslides and damages to vital infrastructures, such as roads, in their areas to the heavy rains that occurred between August 3 and August 7. 

The latest landslides were reported in Talisay City, and the towns of Alegria, San Fernando, and Boljoon, all in southern Cebu.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Alegria confirmed that a landslide small portions of a barangay road in Lower Kawasan, Brgy. Montpeller, a hinterland village at around 10:05 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9. 

The ground on the landslide site had become saturated after days of downpour, and eventually eroded, Alegria’s MDRRMO stated. 

Earlier that day, the local governments of Talisay City, San Fernando, and Boljoon also reported landslides in their respective jurisdictions.

In Barili, which is also in southern Cebu, only one lane of the Malolos Road in the town’s Brgy. Malolos was passable to traffic after portions of it collapsed.

The ground beneath the barangay road eroded past 12 midnight on Tuesday.

“The DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highway), MDRRMO, and the Municipal Engineer’s Office are now working to facilitate safer passage sa atong mga manabukay. Apan mintras nga gilihok pa ang pag ayo sa dalan, magmatngon ta ug doblehon ang pag amping kung kinahanglan jud moagi diring dapita,” said Barili Mayor John-John Garcia on social media.

The combined effect of the prevailing southwest monsoon (habagat) and a low-pressure area (LPA) brought incessant, heavy rains in Cebu between August 3 and August 7.

As a result, Cebu received an ‘excessive amount of rainfall’ during the first week of August, at 212 millimeters, which is already way beyond its monthly average of 157 millimeters. 

Most parts of Metro Cebu were inundated, including the tri-cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue.

Based on an initial tally compiled by local reporters, a total of 392 families from the towns of Barili, Minglanilla, Compostela, Carmen, Dumanjug, and the cities of Mandaue and Toledo were affected by the recent floods. 

PDRRMO, in the meantime, said they are still coming up with the official figures on the damages incurred in infrastructure and agriculture.

/bmjo

RELATED STORIES

Monsoon rains to continue in majority of PH on Monday — Pagasa

Cebu to experience intermittent rains over the weekend