Floods caused by heavy rains, clogged drainages in Cebu, says CCDRRMO

Motorists experienced floods due to heavy rains in some parts of Cebu on Monday afternoon, September 11. | Contributed photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) identified factors that contributed to the heavy floods that occurred in various parts of Metro Cebu this week.

CCDRRMO Head Harold Alcontin said that the large volume of rain has caused flooding in the city.

Among the places that were greatly affected by the flood was Barangay Banilad in Cebu City on Monday which affected the malls in the barangay along Gov. Cuenco Avenue. 

The following day, September 12, Tuesday, the CCDRRMO personnel conducted an assessment to determine the cause of the flooding. 

They found that the Mahiga Creek which flows near one of the establishments there swelled up. 

They also found that the drainage facilities along Gov. Cuenco Avenue did not have regular maintenance. 

“Mga inlets nangabara tungod sa abog ug napondo na sila. Mao nang mogahi siya dayun na clog up,” Alcontin told the Cebu City Public Information Office (PIO).

He said the clogged drainages resulted in flooding, so he asked the personnel from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to unclog the drainage facilities in Barangay Banilad. 

On Wednesday afternoon, the personnel from the CCDRRMO, Task Force Gubat sa Baha, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted a convergence meeting that focused on addressing the flooding situation in Barangay Banilad. 

The CCDRRMO head recommended to the city’s River and Coastal Management Board to include Barangay Banilad in the city-wide clean-up activity on Saturday, September 16.

READ: Floods hit some areas in Mandaue, Cebu cities

Intense to torrential

According to Pagasa-Mactan Chief Al Quiblat on Tuesday, they recorded 29.6 millimeters of rainfall in Mactan only from 3:48 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Monday.

But Quiblat said that the volume would reach more than 30 millimeters in some parts of Metro Cebu.

However, he said that the rain that caused floods in some parts of Mandaue City and Cebu City was more than 30 millimeters of rain as seen on their radar.

The rain on Monday fell under the “intense to torrential” category.

Quiblat added that the heavy rainfall that Cebu experienced this week was due to localized thunderstorms.

“Kay kining small scale nga panghitabo pariho aning thunderstorm, dali ni siya mo develop ug dali pod maka mugna og passing rains bisag short duration, naay usahay during severe thunderstorm [kay] kusog iyang ulan nga ibundak mao nang magbaha ug dahili sa yuta,” he said. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Pagasa Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan) chief said that thunderstorms tend to develop fast which would result in rains even if it is only for a short period of time.

He also said that the severe thunderstorms would also result in floods and landslides.

Flooding and landslides

On Monday, the CCDRRMO personnel also responded to other flooding and landslide incidents in Barangay Talamban and Barangay Budlaan.

They evacuated around six families affected by the landslide in Sitio Kapasar, Barangay Budlaan, according to the Cebu City PIO.

Meanwhile, 200 individuals were affected by flooding in Sitio Dao in Barangay Talamban.

The CCDRRMO did not order the residents in Barangay Talamban to evacuate but they advised the barangay officials to unclog the facilities.

“Atong awhag sa atong mga barangays nga mag-monitor gyud ilabi na kung makadawat silag advisory sa atong command center o sa Pagasa kung naa bay weather disturbances,” Alcontin said via Cebu City PIO.

Based on the data from Pagasa, the rainy season in the country is from June to November, while the dry season is from December to May.

READ:

Metro Cebu execs seek lasting solution to floods

Intense to torrential rains inundate parts of Metro Cebu – Pagasa Mactan