Nonstop rains threaten coastal, flood-prone areas anew
Overnight monsoon rains flooded anew perennial flood-prone areas in the city as tight watch was made on coastal towns of the province yesterday.
Major streets in Iloilo City proper had an unusually slow flow of traffic till early afternoon while long-time areas of concern in various city districts saw residents bracing for the floodwaters.
In Jaro, locals lined up the bridge towards Tabuc Suba just about noon with hourly updates checked by barangay officials here on the water level of the Iloilo river. Homes in affluent subdivisions in said district were also seen to have sacks of blockades aimed at preventing floodwaters from reaching their homes.
In the past, Jaro district stands to be among the major flooded areas in the city alongside portions of Lapaz District.
A number of Capitol employees also reported for work only in the morning after information that water level in major rivers connecting Iloilo towns increased by the hour.
Incessant rains occurred in Iloilo City believed to have been the reason why power was temporarily cut off early morning yesterday. Iloilo towns particularly in Central Iloilo also had nonstop rains overnight with a brief stop mid-day yesterday.
Yet Iloilo is ready, assured Director Rosario Cabrera of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) who added that emergency responders worked overtime to monitor the condition in various towns and all over the city.
Text messages poured in from different communicators who are in partnership with the OCD giving Director Cabrera an updated picture of the situations in Iloilo towns.
Second District towns of the Aleson area were an initial concern following heavy rains that only stopped early afternoon. Water level as of 3pm was placed at Level 3, one notch away from the critical Level 4.
"Our emergency responders are on alert. If it is necessary to evacuate our affected residents to higher grounds, the procedures are in place in coordination with our local disaster coordinating councils," Director Cabrera said in a The News Today (TNT) interview.
With the OCD came the "Oplan Panawagan" and "Oplan Ugnayan" that laid down the guidelines on how to effect a more efficient disaster management here. Assistance of search and rescue groups are automatically sought if and when impending disaster is seen.
One major concern is the Tigum river in Maasin with the water level here monitored and a signal that the Iloilo River and the city will also be flooded.
Director Cabrera in her appeal to locals called for cooperation and immediate evacuation once the concern for rising floodwaters is apparent.
"Let us not wait for disaster to strike then respond. Please evacuate and move to higher grounds once the need is there," she ended.