Sapangdaku outpost to watch out for floods

THEIR community’s name shows they’ve long been vulnerable to floods, but they hope the Cebu City Government can help them find solutions, said Sapangdaku Barangay Captain Lorna Damalerio.

In the meantime, an outpost is stationed near their bridge to warn residents in case of another flash flood, like the one that swept appliances and livestock last Saturday noon.

“Our outpost is stationed 24/7 to prevent instances like this,” said Damalerio.

Since June, the weather bureau has adopted a color-coded alert system for Metro Manila, where floods recently forced the cancellation of classes and shut down business operations.

In Cebu City, barangay officials were still consolidating yesterday the number of individuals who suffered from the latest flash flood in Sapangdaku—literally, “big river”–last Saturday.

Damalerio said they will submit the list to City Hall’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) today so that assistance will be given to the victims.

“Based on my estimate, there are over 40 houses affected, more or less a hundred individuals. Ilang panginabuhi sama sa pananom naapektaran sad (They have also lost their livelihood, such as crops),” said Damalerio in a phone interview.

She also plans to consult the Cebu City Government about the bridge project that was supposed to be finished last July.

Last Saturday, floodwater entered houses in Sitios Caimitohan Riverside and Mohon in Barangay Sapangdaku, following a heavy downpour.

Damalerio said these sitios near the Sapangdaku River have always been hit by flood whenever there is a heavy rain, but last Saturday’s impact was more severe than usual.

The Bureau of the Fire Protection reportedly had to tear down part of one of the houses to rescue four people trapped inside.

Aside from the families affected, Damalerio said some 50 students from Sapangdaku Elementary School were also evacuated.

Alvin Santillana of Cebu City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has also said the flash flood affected several areas in Barangays Kalunasan and Sambag II, apart from Sapangdaku.