Minimal effects noted: Storm spares Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Except for minimal damage to agriculture, tropical depression Samuel spared Cebu largely despite having made landfall in the province’s northern territory yesterday morning.

No one was reported hurt or injured.

Alfredo Quiblat, Jr., head of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Visayas, said Samuel’s strength reduced from 55 kilometers per hour (kph) to 45 kph of maximum sustained winds before the center (or eye) crossed Cebu.

In fact, only up to Storm Warning Signal Number 1 was raised here and was lifted immediately after Samuel left the province.

The estimated 500 families who were made to evacuate since Tuesday were allowed to return to their homes yesterday, said Julius Regner, information officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

Like in other parts of the province, agriculture took a slight blow in mountain barangays in Cebu City at the height of Samuel, said City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Nagiel Bañacia.

“As initially assessed, sweet corn ang naay damage but partial lang meaning tungod sa uwan nangluyloy but after several days dakong chance nga mobarog pa, makarecover. Ang newly planted veggies naapektuhan sab sa ulan,” said City Agriculture head Apple Tribunalo.

The mountain barangays include Tagbao, Adlaon, Taptap, Lusaran, Sirao, Tabunan, Sudlon 1, and Sudlon 2.

Bañacia believes that preparedness was key to zero casualty. He thanked all barangay disaster teams that were activated and alerted to respond to possible eventualities.

Bañacia said the city’s disaster team patrolled the mountain barangays at past 2 a.m. yesterday to assess possible damage.

“Ang atong pagpangandam ug ang atong mga kaigsuonan pod, nangandam pod sila. Wala gyud nagpabaya. Wala nato gi-downplay ang nahitabo. Alert napod tang tanan. Hinaot unta nga padayon ni nga batasan nga kon dunay mga katalagman nga umaabot, kita tanan andam,” he said.

Meanwhile, all 275 residents of Sitios Sandayong and Lower Puti in Barangay Buhisan have been allowed to return home.

“Sa among assessment, wala ra gyud major nga dahili sa yuta gagmay nga mga bato among nakita gyud nga natagak maong among gipabalik na sila sa ilang panimalay pag buntag,” Bañacia told The FREEMAN.

Rosa Gajudo, 48, is among the 275 individuals who were made to leave the barangay last Tuesday night to avoid a possible disaster.

Gajudo’s family lives by the river, which separates them from the mountain where a huge crack can be seen. The huge crack was visible after the 7.2-magnitude quake that hit Central Visayas in 2013.

Gajudo said the massive landslide in Naga City, Cebu in September helped them appreciate the importance of preemptive evacuation and disaster-preparedness.

“Biente ka tuig na gyud mi gapuyo diri. Nahadlok pod mi sa dako kaayo nga liki sa bukid duol raba kaayo’s amoa. Mitoo gyud mi sa barangay kay sila may mas nakahibalo,” she told The FREEMAN.

Barete said the barangay has coordinated with the city government for the relocation of all families living in danger zones.

He added that there are flooded areas in the city, especially on the road in Barangay Agus, where floodwaters are yet to subside.

"Gamay’ng uwan, mobaha dayon na," he said, though the city as well as the barangay would just use a machine that would siphon the floodwaters after hours of rain.

This has been the situation whenever rain comes, Berame said.

The uneven road in the barangay has yet to be fixed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as it is part of the national road.

Travels

Sea travels in the Visayas and Mindanao have been reinstated.

The Coast Guard Cebu Station has reinstated travels in Southern Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, and Camotes Group of Islands.

In a separate Notice to Mariners, CGS Bohol station commander Erikzon Laz said all vessels from the port of Bohol to all islands of Bohol can now travel.

Other travels from the Bohol Port to Southern Cebu, Cebu City, Dumaguete, Siquijor and Mindanao have also been reinstated.

So are the travels to and from Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Island Province and Camiguin.

Residents of Olango Island and neighboring islets can now cross to Lapu-Lapu City. — JMO (FREEMAN)