Another LPA this weekend ‘Henry’ disrupts CV

CEBU, Philippines - It did not make a landfall but Typhoon Henry disrupted Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas yesterday with strong winds and heavy rains.

Forecasters said the strong winds and heavy rains were brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by the tropical cyclone spotted last night near extreme northern Luzon, which is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility today.

Even with this, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 reiterated its warning for landslide and flood-prone areas in Region 7, stressing the importance of preemptive and proactive evacuation.

 In a press briefing called by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councilpresided by Office of Civil Defense operations officer Engineer Verneil Balaba, PAGASA Visayas Director Oscar Tabada said Cebu and the region will continue to experience rains and rough seas.

"Sunny ta ugma (today) with light rains. Ang ulan-ulanon ta will be from Thursday until Saturday. Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor will be windy with light to moderate rains," Tabada said.

 PAGASA also issued a gale warning, which prompted the Philippine Coast Guard - Central Visayas to prevent 13 vessels and motor bancas from sailing, leaving 549 passengers stranded since winds were strong waves were big as of 4 p.m. yesterday.

 Among the trips cancelled were those of MV Rosalia 3 from Cebu City to Baybay carrying 90 passengers, MV Gloria 2 from Cebu City to Hilongos carrying 120 passengers, MV Fuji II from Cebu City to Bato carrying 23 passengers, MV Beautiful Star from Cebu City to Hilongos.

 Vessels from Hagnaya and Bantayan ports were also barred from sailing, including MV Lady of Angels from Bantayan to Estancia Panay, Motorbanca Bait Beep Dream from Bantayan port to Cadiz, Negros Occidental, Motorbanca Super Sim from Hagnaya port to Cataingan, Masbate, MV Super Shuttle Ferry 19 from Hagnaya port to Canayan, Masbate, Lct Caniz Navz from Tabuelan port to Basecilo Escalante Negros Occidental.

 Strong winds and big waves also prevented fast crafts traversing the Bohol - Cebu route from sailing, including the MV Seajet carrying 70 passengers, MV Starcraft 3 carrying 100 passengers, MV Lite Jet 9 carrying 70 passengers. A fast craft bound for Leyte from Bohol, MV Sacred Heart, with 76 passengers was also disallowed from traveling.

 In Cebu City, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) reported that a tree had fallen in Barangay Kalunasan following strong winds but no one was injured.

"Naay natumba nga kahoy sa Kalunasan mga 4 p.m. ug na-clear nato mga 5 p.m. rasad," said CCDRRMC Chairman Dave Tumulak.

He said that the strongest winds in Cebu City yesterday were recorded in the morning at 37 kilometer per hour and 30 kilometer per hour in the afternoon.

"Peligro gyod ang kakusog sa hangin nga mga matumba ang kahoy, ug dili gyod pwede mobyahe sa dagat kay kusog ang bawd," he said.

Classes in Bayawan City in Negros Oriental had to be cancelled due to strong winds and heavy rains.

Inday

Tabada said they remain vigilant for a possible weather disturbance, which may enter the PAR this Saturday as a Low Pressure Area and eventually develop into a tropical cyclone, which will be called "Inday."

 "Sa Friday, medyo okay atong panahon ana. Pero inig abot na ug Sabado ug Dominggo, dunay mosulod nga laing LPA nga possible mahimong bagyo nga tawgon nga Inday. Mao ni rason nga uwanon ang atong weekend," Tabada said.

 MGB-7, for its part, called on local government officials to undertake necessary pre-emptive evacuation efforts in low-lying and landslide and flood-prone areas in the region.

 MGB 7 Director Loreto B. Alburo said these communities should be prepared or even be "over-prepared" at all times to ensure their safety.

"The high flooding susceptibility is due to proximity to perennial river creek system, poor drainage facility, inherently low lying area, proximity to coastal area, heavily silted river or creek, and encroachment along natural drainage channels," Alburo said.

 Flooding occurs when the level of a body of water rises until it overflows its natural or artificial confines and submerges land in the surrounding area due to intense and prolonged precipitation and other geologic factors.

 "It is very important that local chief executives should give more attention of areas that are found to be highly susceptible to flooding and landslides which have been known to them as indicated in the geohazards threat advisory issued to them," Alburo stressed.

 He also urged local chief executives to get hold of the geohazard maps and implement the necessary measures to reduce the impact of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.

 He warned that the volume of water brought by Henry might aggravate soil conditions that have been either saturated by rains or loosened by trees uprooted by "Glenda", thereby causing landslides.

Danger areas

 In Cebu City, 19 barangays are highly susceptible to landslides, including Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay,Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, and Adlaon.

 In Cebu Province, MGB identified Barangays Tagjaguimit, Alpaco, Balirong, Mayana, Naalad, and Cogon in City of Naga.; 11 barangays in Balamban: Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Luca, Ginatilan, Cabasiangan, Matun-og, Cansomoroy, Gaas, Magsaysay, Cabagdalan, and Duangan.

 Five barangays were also identified in Toledo City, including Tungkay, Pangamihan, Bagacay, Loay and Don Andres Soriano.

Barangay Lamac in Pinamungahan has been identified, as well as Barangays Agbanga, Baye, Bairan, Kanluangan and Sak-sak in Asturias; Barangay Doldol in Dumanjug; and Barangay Cansalonoy in Ronda.

All mountain barangays in Talisay City have been classified as risky while

In Bohol, those living in portions of areas that were affected by the deadly earthquake last yearhave been advised to take the necessary precaution and to implement proactive evacuation, including those in Tagbilaran City, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Alburquerque, Panglao, Dauis, Loon, Calape, Catigbian, Balilihan, Batuan, Sagbayan, and Carmen.

Meanwhile, the areas in Cebu City found to be susceptible to flooding are Barangays Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, Bonbon, the downtown area, and areas along the Guadalupe River. Seven areas were identified in Mandaue City, including Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an.

In Negros Oriental, five barangays in Guihulngan City, namely Humayhumay, Imelda, Mabunga, Sandayao, and Tacpao have high susceptibility to landslides. There are 12 barangays with moderate to high susceptibility to landslide, including Bakid, Banwaque, Calamba, Calupaan, Linantuyan, Mabunga,Maniak, Plagatasanon, Planas, Trinidad, Binobohan, and Villegas.

 In La Libertad, nine barangays were identified to be susceptible to landslide, including Aniniaw, Aya, Biga-a, Guihob, Kansumandig, Mambutod, Managondong, Pangca, and Pitogo.Barangay Mandapaton has moderate to high susceptibility to landslide. The 11 barangays with moderate susceptibility to landslide include Manluminsag, Busilak, Cantopa, Elecia (Talostos), Eli, Manghulyawon, Martilo, Nasungon, San Jose, Solongon, and Tala-on.

 Around nine barangays in Bayawan City, namely Banga, Maninihon, Poblacion, Villareal, Nangka, Suba, Ubos, Pagatban and Kalumbuyan are flood-prone areas.

 In the town of Siaton, Barangays Poblacion II, Poblacion III, Poblacion IV, and San Jose were flood-prone areas; and barangays Calicugan, Maloh, Cabangahan, Giliga-on, Bonawan and Apoloy area landslide-prone areas.

 In Basay, the flood-prone areas are barangays near the Tyabanan, Pagatban, and Basay rivers.

 Eight barangays in Dumaguete City are flood-prone, namely Candau-ay, Cadawinonan, Tabuctubig, Batinguel, Poblacion, Junob, Poblacion 2, and Bagakay.

In Siquijor, six barangays were found to be highly susceptible to landslides and flooding, including Libo in Enrique Villanueva; Bintangan, and Helen, in Larena; and Cang-isad, Luyang, and Sabang, in Siquijor. — With Jean Marvette Demecillo/JMO