AFTER an overnight rain that resulted in flooding, Barangay Day-as in Cebu City will distribute rice to families who were affected by recent flooding in three sitios on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Day-as Barangay Captain Freddie Esmas said in a phone call interview on Thursday, June 26, that residents in Sitio Ulidamin, Sitio Tender Heart, and Sitio Jester, which are located beside the creek, have long been vulnerable to flash floods. These areas were flooded after an overnight rain on Wednesday, June 25.
“Basta mag-uwan sa bukid og kusog kayo, mubaha gyud kay mabaw na kaayo ang sapa,” Esmas said.
(Heavy rains in the mountains always cause flooding because the river is shallow.)
He explained that although portions of the creek have been widened and the three-meter easement partially recovered, sediment buildup and garbage continue to block the water flow, especially near T. Padilla, causing water to backflow into interior drainage systems.
To help affected residents who were unable to report to work due to early morning cleanup, the barangay distributed three kilos of rice per family.
Esmas said that there are at least 50 families affected.
“But kaning sitwasyon karun, kaning panghatag og bugas kay naa man guy mga residente nga trabahante unya kadlawon o buntag na mahuman og habwa unya dili na makatrabaho, murag tabang lang ni ba pero temporary rani ba means of alleviating the plight aning mga residente kay naa baya maka-absent,” Esmas said.
(There are residents who are workers, and it takes until dawn or morning to finish unloading, so they can't go to work. It's like just a form of help, but it's only a temporary means of alleviating the plight of these residents because some of them even have to be absent from work.)
He also said that the barangay has always prepared goods for calamities including floods but he also said that there are other matters where a barangay budget is also allocated.
He emphasized that Barangay Day-as, considered one of the most marginalized in Cebu City, lacks the resources to carry out large-scale flood control and has long been appealing to the City Government for support in desilting the waterway.
“Beyond the means of the barangay. I’ve been lobbying for desilting for some time now,” Esmas said.
“While the recovery of the easement helped, it’s not enough. We need sustained desilting,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
The Cebu City Government has been implementing flood mitigation projects, including the construction of riprap walls, sheet pile reinforcements, and the installation of flood gates along critical sections of Lahug Creek and its tributaries.
These are intended to stabilize creek, manage water flow, and reduce the impact of heavy rains.
While Esmas welcomed the ongoing city efforts, he urged city officials to consider creek desilting and checking on drainage systems. (CDF)