Damage in Tuburan, Cebu flooding reaches P55 million

CEBU, Philippines — The recent flooding in Tuburan, Cebu has left at least P55 million in damage to agriculture and infrastructure, according to the town’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).

Richard Hernandez, DRRMO head, said the infrastructure damage was estimated at P40 million, while the damage to agriculture and livestock is approximated at P15million.

Rice, corn and banana fields were among the affected agricultural lands.

Also, two footbridges were damaged, said Hernandez.

He said 20 out of the 54 barangays were affected by the floods.

The barangays include Colonia, Fortaleza, Sangi, Jagbuaya, Manga, Otso, Caridad, Marmol, Mag-atubang, Mag-Alwa, Mag-Antoy, Amatugan and Languyon.

Hernandez said the number of affected barangays is still likely to increase considering that other villages, mostly in upland areas, are yet to submit reports.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) earlier, three houses -- two in Purok Romahan in Barangay Otso and one in Barangay Jagbuaya -- were totally damaged, while six classrooms of Bakyawan Elementary School were partially damaged.

The house of Robelyn Cebuano, 35, was among the three damaged houses.

She said her house was hit by a large tree trunk.

Cebuano opted to stay at their house to look after their belongings, while her five children and parents took shelter at the evacuation center.

"Wa mi mag dahom nga ma ing-ani nga wala mi madala nga butang. Dili lalim, gihagoan baya na namo tanan unya sa usa ka pagpamilok, wa na. Magpasko na wala man siguroy malipay pero malipay mi nga pasko unya buhi pa mi tanan,” she said.

Also, PDRRMO reported that 369 families or a total of 1,465 individuals have been evacuated.

Desilting

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the rivers in the towns of Tuburan, Balamban and Asturias are already “heavily silted.”

This, she ordered the Provincial Engineering's Office and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) to survey the rivers for dredging.

“We have to desilt immediately," she said.

The governor said she will meet with the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and some contractors Wednesday next week for the dredging project.

Tuburan Mayor Danilo Diamante, for his part, said the town will start dredging the river by Monday to remove silt and sand accumulated on the river bed.

“We will start dredging up to the mouth of the river to prevent floodwaters from overflowing,” he said.

The officials' statements came after yesterday’s inspection.

Garcia and DPWH personnel first visited the flood-affected barangays of Nangka and Cantuod in Balamban town.

The heavy rainfall on December 2 caused the Balamban River to swell and overflow.

Garcia and other government officials also inspected the Guinabasan River in Asturias.

Although, the Guinabasan River did not overflow but its flood control project was damaged.

The flood control projects in Balamban River and Languyon River were also destroyed.

Garcia said the rehabilitation of the flood control structures is part of the long-term solution to the flooding problem.

The towns of Asturias and Balamban in midwest Cebu are still assessing the damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Yesterday’s inspection was wrapped up by distributing relief goods to the affected residents in Tuburan. - KQD (FREEMAN)