THE cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu conducted pre-disaster risk assessment on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in preparation for Super Typhoon Mawar, which will be named Betty once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday night or Saturday morning.
Mandaue Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) head Buddy Ybañez told the media on Thursday, May 25, that even though the city will be spared from the wrath of the typhoon based on Pagasa’s monitoring track they will still prepare for heavy rains that may cause flooding and landslides, especially in flood-prone areas in A.S. Fortuna Street, Barangay Subangdaku along Innodata, and the Butuanon River in Barangay Paknaan, among others.
Currently, Mandaue City is on a blue alert status which means that all disaster risk personnel are on standby for any eventuality.
Meanwhile, an official of the Lapu Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LCDRRMO) said they were expecting a gale warning alarm from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) for the upcoming typhoon.
Andy Berame, assistant head of LCDRRMO told Sunstar Cebu on Thursday that sea trips might be suspended once Pagasa hoists the gale warning signal.
Berame, however, promised to take care of the passengers who might be affected by the cancellation of sea voyages.
"Daghan pud mananagat sa isla sa Olango ug katung mga neighboring areas way pagkaon mao na’ng mag distribute tag mga pagkaun, mga relief goods," Berame added.
(There are many fishermen on Olango Island and neighboring areas who do not have food, that is why we are going to distribute food, relief goods).
Berame said they are still in white status (normal) as of the moment.
He added that they will possibly declare the blue alert status on Friday afternoon.
Mandaue City residents
Janine Montesa, 36, a mother of three from Barangay Subangdaku, said she prepared emergency packs in case there will be flooding.
"Nagpalit nakug mga delata ug bugas ingkaso. Unya palit nakug kandila kung naay brownout, naa magamit," Montesa.
(I bought canned goods and rice for emergency cases. I also bought candles in case there is a brownout).
Ermita Payag, 50, who is also from Barangay Subangdaku, said that she and her family would listen to and watch the news for updates in order to keep track of the typhoon.
Jay Mantos, 30, from Barangay Tipolo said they helped clean the creek in there area to prevent it from clogging during heavy rains.
In a related development, four flood mitigation projects are being undertaken phase by phase in the different creeks and waterways of Mandaue City.
Karla Cortes, head of the Mandaue Public Information Office (PIO), said the projects were discussed during the meeting between Mayor Jonas Cortes and the officials of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday, May 22.
Cortes said the city's flooding problem will be rectified once the projects are completed.
These projects are the Rolling Hills Drainage Project in Banilad, Drainage Project going to E. Espina Street, Banilad, Tipolo Creek Flood Control Project Phase 1 and the Consuelo Flood Control Project in Basak.
The city will coordinate with the DPWH for the dredging activity and the installation of submersible pumps.
It will also coordinate with the Cebu City Government for the possible diversion of Talamban drainage from A.S. Fortuna to Cebu City side of Mahiga Creek.
Also discussed during the meeting were the flood control projects for Butuanon River, Mahiga River, Tipolo Creek, and Basak Creek, which will be implemented next year. (HIC, TPT)