AT LEAST 44 families were evacuated to the Ibabao-Estancia gym on Friday, June 6, 2025, after heavy rains caused waist-deep flooding in several barangays of Mandaue City.
The severe weather inundated multiple low-lying communities, with Barangays Ibabao-Estancia, Tipolo, Cabancalan, Pagsabungan and Subangdaku among those hardest hit, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
CDRRMO head Buddy Ybañez said in an interview with SunStar Cebu that the evacuation was carried out as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of residents, especially those living near waterways and poorly drained areas.
Despite the flooding’s extent, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Floodwaters reached waist-high in some areas, submerging roads, homes and businesses.
Emergency response teams from the City’s disaster office and barangay units were immediately deployed to assist affected families and facilitate their evacuation.
Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, one of the most flood-prone communities in the city, bore the brunt of the flooding due to its proximity to a nearby creek that tends to overflow during prolonged rainfall.
When it floods, the road becomes impassable for motorists and many vehicles get stuck.
According to Ybañez, while the barangay does have a functioning drainage system, the flooding was worsened by clogged waterways.
“The barangay has a drainage system, but it’s clogged with garbage. Water really builds up and since there’s also a nearby creek, the flooding gets even worse,” he said.
He also stressed that while the City regularly conducts drainage cleanups and desilting operations, these efforts are undermined by the public’s lack of discipline in waste disposal.
“The common cause of the flooding is the accumulation of trash in the drainages. Although the City has cleaned and desilted the drainages, people’s negligence remains an issue,” he said.
At the height of the flooding, families displaced from their homes were brought to the Ibabao-Estancia gym, where they received immediate assistance from the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS).
Relief goods and temporary shelter were provided to evacuees, many of whom were unable to salvage their belongings from the rising waters.
CSWS personnel advised families that they could return home once the floodwaters subside and it is deemed safe to do so.
As of Saturday morning, June 7, some evacuees had begun returning to their residences, while others remained at the gym, waiting for conditions to improve. / CAV