Poll bets rush to help flashflood-hit Sogod

CEBU, Philippines — Displaced by the flashfloods that swept through their homes late afternoon Monday, the over 300 families in Sogod, north Cebu received various aids from political candidates yesterday.

Among those who came to check the situation of the flood survivors were Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, gubernatorial and congressional candidates Ace and Red Durano, and reelectionist Rep. Duke Frasco.

Monday’s floods had forced families from the barangays of Bawo, Damolog, Poblacion, Bagatayam and Ibabao to evacuate as floodwaters reached as high as five feet.

“During sa peak, niabot man mga five feet. Naa nuon ubang areas nga tagahawak, tagatuhod,” Maria Helena Zamore, disaster risk reduction and management officer of Sogod, told The FREEMAN.

Several establishments and houses were damaged by the flashfloods, which were caused by heavy downpour that started at around 5 p.m.

No fatalities were reported. However, portions of many homes were left buried in mud, animals were killed, and other personal properties were damaged in the wake of the gushing of waters.

But what had exactly caused the rise in the water level that day?

“Sa kinaraan buhawi pero karon sa binag-o na sigon sa atong Pag-asa kay cloudburst na na siya...nag-start siya mga 5:30 p.m. pero kusog kaayo ang dogdog kahapon, so mao to ni overflow ang atong mga rivers, mga creeks, didto gyud nangagi ang mga tubig,” Zamora said.

Cloudburst, according to Zamora, is a sudden heavy rainfall.

She said that by 6 p.m. Monday, the rivers and creek had started to overflow and this lasted for an hour.

The rain finally stopped at around 7 p.m., but by this time, Zamora said many houses had already been inundated.

The Sogod DRRMO also reported a landslide in Sitio Canduang, Damolog, though no one got hurt fortunately.

Residents affected by the floods are now being sheltered at the Deo Durano Sports and Cultural Complex and St. James the Apostle Parish.

Zamora said some of the residents already went back to their respective homes yesterday to clean them.

Outpouring of help

After the incident, help poured in for the affected residents.

Governor Garcia, who went to the town and inspected the areas hit, said each of the affected families will be given P20,000 cash assistance from the Cebu provincial government.

“Sa karon pa lang, samtang naghimo ta og imbentaryo sa mga apektado nga balay, kadtong mga totally damaged and partially damaged sa karon pa lang ang una nato nga mapaabot kaninyo direkta nga tabang nga cash assistance gikan sa Province of Cebu ang akong ikasaad tag P20,000 kada pamilya,” Garcia said.

The governor said the cash aid will be apart from the food packs and construction materials that will be given to the victims.

Frasco, for his part, has also pledged P5,000 cash assistance to every affected household.

According to Zamora, the Sogod LGU will also extend P10,000 assistance to each of the affected families.

Durano, the gubernatorial aspirant of BAKUD party, also went to Sogod yesterday — ahead of Garcia — and distributed food items, face masks, and clothing items to the victims.

“Aduna pa ta’y idugang og hatag nila labi na tong mga kinahanglanon kaayo sama sa pagkaon ug daily essentials. Giuna nato ni kay mao ni ang naandam dayon human pagdawat nato sa balita gahapon aning panghitaboa,” Durano said.

Ace was with his brother Red, who is set to challenge Frasco in the race to a congressional seat representing the Fifth District in the 2022 elections.

Sogod is part of the Fifth District. — JMD (FREEMAN)