The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office urged Dabawenyos to stay alert and promptly check weather advisories and evacuate and secure safety if heavy downpour exceeds an hour. This, after the flooding that affected the city’s urban areas and streets on Wednesday evening.
Alfredo Baloran, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said that localized thunderstorm advisories should always be monitored as they show general weather, localized thunderstorms, and the type of rainfall in particular areas.
“Advisories atong ginahatag para sa atoang weather system. Naga-announce ta og kaning mga localized thunderstorms. Kining localized thunderstorms duna gyud siya’y pagbundak sa ulan either moderate or heavy rainfall nga atoang ma-experience duna ni siya’y kusog nga hangin ug pagkilat. Gina-awhag nato ang kaigsoonan nga kanunay mag-amping, especially kaning sayo sa kahapunon hanghtod sa kagabhion kay diha ang localized thunderstorms and adunay pag-ulan ulan (We always give advisories about our weather system. [We] announce if there are localized thunderstorms. These localized thunderstorms are coupled with either moderate or heavy rainfall that we may experience, and they also come with strong winds and thunderstorms. All are encouraged to stay safe always, especially during early afternoons and evenings because usually, these are the times local thunderstorms with rains occur),” Baloran said.
He added that those who are located in low-lying areas near the creeks should closely observe the weather.
“Sa mga low-lying areas in Davao City duol sa creeks inyong gipuy-an kanunay mo mag obserba no magready, mag alert all the time kung aduna na’y pagbundak sa ulan, especially kung more than an hour na ang bundak sa kusog nga ulan, mag andam nata sa mga gamit pwede na nato na ipasaka sa duna’y second floor. (Those who are located in low-lying areas of Davao City, near the creeks, you should always be observant and be ready. [You] must stay alert if there is rainfall, especially if it lasts for over an hour, we should transfer the things that we can bring to the second floor if you have one),” Baloran said.
In a separate statement during the I-Speak Media forum, CDRRMO Operations Assistant Ezra James Fernandez said the weather situation on Wednesday night was attributed to the easterlies that caused the sudden weather changes. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Association (Pagasa) warned about the weather phenomenon on Wednesday evening.
Fernandez said that based on assessment, a total of eight barangays were affected by urban flooding four barangays were affected by street flooding, while one barangay was affected by the overflowing of the Lipadas River.
Urban flooding was noted in Matina Aplaya, Talomo Proper, Bago Gallera, Ma-a, Catalunan Pequeno, Baliok, and Sto. Niño while, street flooding occurred in Matina Crossing, Dumoy, Bago Aplaya, and Bucana. Crossing Bayabas Toril was affected by the increase in water level in the Lipadas River.
Fernandez said that upon the reported water level increase in Lipadas River, monitored through the river monitors, their office conducted a rekorida and enjoined Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils to advise a pre-emptive evacuation in affected communities.
As of 3 pm Thursday, the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) composed of personnel from the CDRRMO, 911 Urban Search and Rescue, security sector, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO), City Health Office (CHO), City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and all other frontline agencies are already deployed to attend to the needs of affected Dabawenyos and also validate the number of persons affected and the damage brought about by Wednesday’s flooding incident. CIO
