SOME residents of Barangay Basak Pardo have called for help due to a “never ending” problem on flooding, especially during heavy rainfall.
A resident, who asked not to be named, approached SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, to report that they have been enduring the flooding for several years.
Eleuterio Reqinto, 58, another resident in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Basak, Pardo, took the lead in initiating a weekly clean-up drive to somehow prevent flooding in the area.
“Ikapila na mi gapangayo og tabang sa taga barangay ani. Ikadaghan na jud pero wala ra silay action gihimo, igo ra mag kodak-kodak diha,” Eleuterio said.
(We have asked for help from the barangay, but they have not taken action, aside from taking photos of the situation.)
Another resident who refused to be named said: “Ang kanang kapitan diha sa barangay wa ra nay lihok, maski ikapila na mi diri nangayo og tabang, wala jud.”
(The barangay captain has not done anything no matter how many times we have asked for help.)
SunStar tried to contact Basak Pardo Barangay Captain Catalina Cabardo on Friday, July 14, but she could not be reached for comment on the allegations.
The area affected by flooding are Sitio Fatima, Japper 1 and Sitio Tangkongan 2.
These areas are flooded easily even during light rainfall and residents said it usually takes four to five days, or even a week, for the water to subside.
“Taga hawak gani ang tubig diari usahay. Baho pa jud kaayong canal and baha madugayan,” Eleuterio said.
(The water level here sometimes is waist-deep and the stench from the canal is so bad.)
“Grabe nangasakit na lang gani ni ang uban nga nipuyo diri. Gipang dengue, ang uban namatay tungod sa dengue. Gipangagod na lang gani mi diri tanan halos tungod aning tubig ug naa pod gani nay bedridden diha nga gipasaka na lang namo maski ari unta na siya sa ubos para dili maglisod,” he added.
(Some people who live here have gotten sick; some got dengue fever. Some also got Athlete’s Foot and we even need to transfer a bedridden resident upstairs due to the flooding.)
“Mao ni nga rason nga nangayo mi og tabang sa barangay nga ang mga kanal tarongon aron ang mga tubig dili mag pundo,” Eleuterio said.
(This is the reason why we sought help from the barangay in fixing the drainage system so that the water will not be stuck.) (Angel Leduna, CNU intern)