CDRRMO warns residents vs extreme weather patterns

After Sunday night’s heavy downpour, which caused the water levels of several tributaries and creeks in the city to rise, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reminded citizens to be more cautious and always be on alert to risks brought by inclement weather.

CDRRMO Head Alfredo Baloran, in an interview with the media on Monday, said weather disturbances such as thunderstorms are to be expected in the latter hours of the day and at night in the coming weeks despite it being the dry season.

“According to the PAG-ASA, na even though El Niño na ta, makasinati gihapon ta og localized thunderstorms. And ang atoang weather system naa tay easterlies. Ang kanang easterlies magdala pud gihapon na siya og weather disturbances like thunderstorms. (According to PAG-ASA, even though it is already El Niño season, we will still experience localized thunderstorms. And we have the easterlies. The easterlies will also bring weather disturbances like thunderstorms),” said Baloran.

“Kagabii, ang atong area diri sa Davao City nakasinati ta og heavy downpour hangtod naabot siya og ganinang kadlawon. Og naay mga tributaries nato and creeks naay nag-overflow (Last night, our are here in Davao City experienced heavy downpour until dawn. And some of our tributaries and creeks overflowed),” he added.

Last night’s rain caused the Talomo River to rise to the orange alert level. The Matina River, meanwhile, rose to critical level which prompted the CDRRMO to pre-emptively evacuate 15 families living in Arroyo Compound, Matina.

Baloran said the residents themselves volunteered to be evacuated to the Barangay Hall the moment the CDRRMO informed them of the danger. The families returned to their homes shortly after the river ebbed to normal level around 3 a.m.

The downpour also flooded several streets in the city which caused heavy traffic and increased the risk of vehicular accidents. Baloran said the City Engineer’s Office and the Ancillary Services Unit will be sending teams to look into possible clogging in the drainage system in the areas affected, particularly in McArthur Highway.

Due to the extreme weather, the CDRRMO chief reiterated that citizens must be wary of both the extreme heat index during the day and the possibility of localized thunderstorms in the afternoon and nighttime.

“So dapat iwasan nato ang overexposure sa adlaw kay kana siya pud may cause heat stroke. And ‘pag naulanan ka sa gabii andiyan ang cough and cold so dapat mag-amping ta. And karon na mga panahon dapat prepared ta, naa ta’y payong na dala para pwede na siya gamiton sa ulan og pwede pud sa init (So we should avoid overexposure during the day because that can cause heat stroke. And if you get rained on at night you might get the cold so we have to be careful. This season we have to be prepared, we should always carry an umbrella which can be used as shade from the sun and cover from the rain),” he said.

Citizens are also urged to pay attention to weather advisories issued by the CDRRMO. CIO