ACTING Mayor Edgardo Labella directed the Cebu City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) to be on full alert as tropical depression Basyang is expected to bring heavy rains to Cebu once it makes a landfall in Surigao this evening.
Labella issued the order after he learned from Oscar Tabada of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) about Basyang.
Since there will be downpour, Labella said flooding, particularly in flood-prone areas of the city, are expected. Barangays identified as flood-prone are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo and Bonbon.
Labella also warned the residents in the 16 coastal barangays of the city against flooding, since Tabada said the tide is high on Friday night. High tide is expected to reach 1.83 meters.
According to Labella, the City Government will already mobilize its heavy equipment and dump trucks, among others, in case there’s a need to evacuate residents.
Aside from flooding, Labella warned residents in landslide-prone areas to be vigilant as the rains may cause soil movements.
Barangays identified as landslide-prone are Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, Adlaon and Kalunasan.
LDRRMC operation officer Alvin Santillana, in a separate interview, said that the preparation of the City for Basyang is that of the signal no. 3 typhoon.
Command center
City Hall will open a command center today at the Office of the Mayor to monitor the path of Basyang and accept floods or landslide report from the city’s barangays.
Meanwhile, Cebu City’s Department of Veterinary Medicines and Fisheries (DVMF) will start its 24-hour operation in monitoring livestock and crops in the mountain barangays with the coming of another weather disturbance today.
DVMF also assured the public that there are no double dead meats sold in all the markets in the city.
DVMF Chief Dr. Pilar Romero said that there is a need to closely monitor the mountain barangays as temperature is expected to drop again due to bad weather.
Personnel from Animal Health Division of DVMF and the City Agriculture Department (CAD) will utilize the City’s facility in Barangay Taptap as their base and monitoring center.
As of yesterday, farmers were advised to set up makeshift barns for their animals.
Also, Romero said they did not receive any reports of double dead meats being sold in the city.
“The farmers are not eating and selling dead animals since our farmers are well-educated,” Romero told reporters.
As of January 28, CAD noted 89 livestocks, mostly cattle and goats, died because of extremely cold condition in the mountain villages.
DVMF along with DA 7 also conducted random testing of all livestock in the mountain barangays.
Romero said one tested positive of pseudomonas micro-organism, which affects the animal’s respiratory system.
DVMF had requested additional supplies of medicine, supplements and vitamins for the animals in the mountain barangays.
“As of now, we are constantly giving the animals a double dose of supplements for them to sustain the cold weather,” said Romero.
Romero, though, assured that the situation of the farm animals and crops in the mountain barangays are no longer alarming.