During heavy downpour: Sixty Mandaue families moved

CEBU, Philippines - At least 60 families were evacuated from their homes in Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City following a heavy downpour Tuesday night.

No one was hurt and the families returned to their houses by early morning.

Felix Suico, chief of the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council, said the families live near a natural waterway, which overflowed when rain poured hard. Their houses reportedly got submerged in four inches of water.

"Ibalhin unta namo sila sa Cubacub Elementary School pero layuan man sila. Didto nalang sila sa elevated areas," Suicio told The Freeman.

The city's social welfare services office have provided tents, packs of rice, and canned goods to the families affected.

Roger Paller, public information officer of Mandaue City, told The Freeman the city keeps an eye on the area because it has been identified as flood-prone.

Paller said the families affected live on a private lot.

"Privately owned man gud ni. Dili ni sila ingon nga squatters sila. Dili ta maka-pursige nila, gawas og kung mo-voluntarily (evacuate) sila," Paller said.

Aside from Barangay Cubacub, three other barangays along A.S. Fortuna Street were also flooded Tuesday night, including Alang-Alang, Cambaro, and Tawason. The water reportedly went up to knee-deep in Barangay Alang-Alang.

Paller said the city has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast track the ongoing road concreting and draining improvement project in the barangay. 

In Sitio Ampalaya in Barangay Cambaro, water also road because the existing drainage has been covered.

"Naay existing nga drainage nga natabunan kay naa may dagkong company, gipangkural ang property… nag tubig, walay outlet… ang buhaton ana, i-call ang attention sa mga private companies," Paller said.

In Barangay Tawason, floodwaters were sighted in Tawason Road near Vera State Subdivision.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reminded local government units to monitor areas prone to flashfloods and landslide.

PDRRMO has identified Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Argao, Dalaguete, Sibonga and Carcar City flashflood prone while the towns of Balamban Alegria, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, and Talisay City have been identified as landslide prone.

Julius Regner, spokesperson of PDRRMO, said no report of damage or death due to floods or landslide reached the office following yesterday's downpour.

Regner said the rain provided relief to farm lands that have been left dry from the extreme heat due to El Niño.

While they only have "minimum equipment," Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Jr., chief of the Police Regional Office 7, said his men are ready to respond to emergencies and help in evacuation efforts. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud,  Le Phyllis F. Antojado with Mylen P. Manto  (FREEMAN)