Considering the heavy rains that come along with Typhoon “Zoraida”, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has called on local government officials to undertake the necessary preemptive evacuation efforts in low-lying and landslide-prone areas in Bohol, Cebu , and Negros Oriental as yet another typhoon has entered the country.
Although tropical storm “Zoraida” has been depicted as less powerful than super typhoon “Yolanda” that recently struck the Visayas and caused heavy damage to property and massive loss of lives, MGB 7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo said that being prepared always or even “overprepared” would be the better option if only to ensure the safety of the communities who may be affected.
Alburo made the appeal following a warning from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that heavy rains could dump as it has already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Zoraida, which was predicted to bring moderate to heavy rainfall within its 300-kilometer diameter, is expected to be within the vicinity of Tagbilaran City in Bohol by Wednesday before heading to Coron, Palawan on Thursday.
“The high flooding susceptibility is due to proximity to perennial river creek system, poor drainage facility, inherently low lying area, proximity to coastal area, heavily silted river or creek, and encroachment along natural drainage channels,” he added.
Flooding occurs when the level of a body of water rises until it overflows its natural or artificial confines and submerges land in the surrounding area due to intense and prolonged precipitation and other geologic factors.
“It is very important that local chief executives should give more attention of areas that are found to be highly susceptible to flooding and landslides which have been known to them as indicated in the geohazards threat advisory issued to them last November 6 and 12,” Alburo stressed.
He also urged local chief executives to get hold of the geohazard maps, and implement the necessary measures to reduce the impact of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.
According to reports reaching the MGB, around 15 landslide-prone areas within Yolanda’s path recorded zero casualties and only damage to property, these include mountain barangays of Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, Sinsin, Tabunan, Guadalupe, Adlaon, Agsungot, Binaliw, Taptap, Cambinocot, Lusaran, all in Cebu City; along the Cebu-Toledo road and brgy. Cubacub in Mandaue City ; and one barangay in Cortes, in Bohol .
Alburo urged for similar cooperation from local government units (LGUs) in the path of Zorayda, which the weather bureau has monitored to be currently in the vicinity of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur in Mindanao .
He warned that the volume of water brought by Zoraida might aggravate soil conditions that have been either saturated by rains or loosened by trees uprooted by Yolanda, thereby causing landslides.
Meanwhile, in Cebu City , 19 barangays are highly susceptible landslides, namely, Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay,Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, and Adlaon.
Barangays Tagjaguimit, Alpaco, Balirong, Mayana, Naalad, and Cogon in City of Naga. ; 11 barangays in Balamban: Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Luca, Ginatilan, Cabasiangan, Matun-og, Cansomoroy, Gaas, Magsaysay, Cabagdalan, and Duangan.
Five barangays in Toledo City : Tungkay, Pangamihan, Bagacay, Loay and Don Andres Soriano; Lamac in Pinamungahan; Five barangays in Asturias :Agbanga, Baye, Bairan, Kanluangan and Sak-sak.
All mountain barangays in Talisay City ; Brgy. Doldol, Purok 3 in Dumanjug; and Cansalonoy in Ronda.
In Bohol, those portions of those areas which have been affected by the quake are advised to take the necessary precautions and to implement proactive evacuation are Tagbilaran City, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Alburquerque, Panglao, Dauis, Loon, Calape, Catigbian, Balilihan, Batuan, Sagbayan, and Carmen.
Alburo said the assessment reveals that there are five barangays in Cebu City that are considered to be most hazardous to flooding and these are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, Bonbon, and Cebu City downtown areas and along the Guadalupe River; and seven barangays in Mandaue City to include Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an.
In Negros Oriental, five barangays in Guihulngan City , namely, Humayhumay, Imelda, Mabunga, Sandayao, and Tacpao have high susceptibility to landslides. There are 12 barangays with moderate to high susceptibility to landslide and these are Bakid, Banwaque, Calamba, Calupa-an, Linantuyan, Mabunga, Maniak, Plagatasanon, Planas, Trinidad, Binobohan, and Villegas.
In La Libertad, nine barangays with high landslide susceptibility are Aniniaw, Aya, Biga-a, Guihob, Kansumandig, Mambutod, Managondong, Pangca, and Pitogo. Barangay Mandapaton has moderate to high susceptibility to landslide. Eleven barangays with moderate susceptibility to landslide are Manluminsag, Busilak, Cantopa, Elecia (Talostos), Eli, Manghulyawon, Martilo, Nasungon, San Jose, Solongon, and Tala-on.
Around nine barangays in Bayawan City , namely Banga, Maninihon, Poblacion, Villareal, Nangka, Suba, Ubos, Pagatban and Kalumbuyan are flood-prone areas.
Also in Siaton, barangays Poblacion II, Poblacion III, Poblacion IV, and San Jose were flood-prone areas; and barangays Calicugan, Maloh, Cabangahan, Giliga-on, Bonawan and Apoloy area landslides-prone areas.
In Basay, the flood-prone areas are barangays near Tyabanan, Pagatban, and Basay rivers.
A total of eight barangays in Dumaguete City are flood-prone areas, namely, Candau-ay, Cadawinonan, Tabuctubig, Batinguel, Poblacion, Junob, Poblacion 2, and Bagakay.