Four days of continuous rainfall since Sunday triggered floods and landslides in Bohol prompting Gov. Edgar Chatto to set in motion a disaster preparedness body aimed to monitor damage in infrastructure and agriculture. By doing so, the governor created the impression that he was on top of the situation even as the province already experienced sunny days since Friday. Gov. Chatto has to cancel previous appointments in Manila when Bohol was threatened with floods that inundated at least 10 towns.
Upon learning that some towns were flooded and landslides occurred in some places, the governor wasted no time in convening the members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (PDRRMC) to put into action all the province's mechanisms and quick response teams to help and assist those who are in affected areas. The governor was scheduled to leave for Manila Friday to attend to some pre-arranged appointments, especially the League of Governors, but called off his trip knowing that Boholanos need his presence during times like these. The governor received reports Thursday that the vicinity of the Sagbayan municipal hall and other areas were partially flooded and that landslides occurred in the barangays of Rosario and Tubod, in Cortes and Jagna, respectively. But thanks to the quick response teams of the province who attended to the landslides immediately, said affected areas are now passable.
Chatto visited Sagbayan to personally see for himself what state the town was in and spoke with Mayor Ricardo Suarez and learned that the flooding in their town was caused by the overflow of rainwater from mountaintops and rice fields. To stop the flooding, Mayor Suarez said, townsfolk made canals on both sides of their roads to hasten the water flow to avoid further damage to property and possible loss of lives. Two female siblings of the Estilllore family were reportedly drowned last Tuesday in Danao town where representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) visited the bereaved family the other day and handed over the financial assistance from the governor. The DSWD was further instructed by Chatto to distribute supplies, especially food for the victims in affected areas, and to see what else are needed to let the people know that the government is looking after them.
The Loboc River, which is world-famous for its river cruises, is now under surveillance and an advisory was given that sailing along the river which is part of the Countryside Package Tour being offered to tourists was temporarily cancelled due to strong currents and the rising level of its waters. It was also learned that the streets in Bien Unido were flooded Friday and that a 10-hectare fishpond in Trinidad, a wooden bridge in Poblacion, Cogtong, Candijay, the national road in Lungsod Daan, some areas in Bilar town and several barangays in Inabanga were also affected by the heavy rains. The Provincial Government has already tapped the medical teams of the DSWD, the Special Forces of Col. Romeo Brawner and government employees to help in the monitoring and to give updates to the PDRRMC.
PAG-ASA Bohol has provided information to the governor that there is no let up of rains for the next several days and that heavy rainclouds would continue to hang over the whole province. Chatto named the Governor's Mansion as the current command center of the PDRRMC and instructed all mayors of the province to monitor the goings-on in their respective municipalities and to immediately report to him or to coordinate with Provincial Administrator Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio II all mishaps in their localities so that appropriate actions and countermeasures would immediately be put in place. He further requested PA Damalerio to get in touch with the media so that relevant information would be immediately disseminated to alert the people in case of emergencies and that appropriate agencies could promptly respond. This is not the first time that Bohol has experienced heavy rains, landslides and floods where dear lives were lost. Several millions of damage to crops and properties were even felt and suffered by the people and Boholanos have learned from their mistakes. This time, the Chatto-Lim Administration is really anchored in “preparedness” and the governor firmly believes that “no disaster is too great for a people who are well prepared.
2 FATALITIES
As the rains started to pour Sunday, a tributary of the Wahig-Pamacsalan River in Danao claimed the lives of two senior citizens. In an interview, Danao Mayor Tommy Gonzaga confirmed that two elderly sisters ---- Ruperta and Esterlita Estillore of barangay Nahud, drowned last Sunday when they forced themselves to cross the treacherous river. The mayor said that the duo were not victims of flooding since there was none but by the rampaging waters. They were recovered the following day. He added that the cost of damage of farm crops in his town was still being assessed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council which he immediately convened and presided over. The drowning of the Estillores was also reported by Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II during the “Kita ug ang Gobernador” program aired over two radio stations last Friday. Damalerio is the officer-in-charge of the Governor's mansion-based PDRRMC headquarters in monitoring the rain-induced situation. It may be recalled that the national highway along barangay Larapan, Jagna town, was obstructed by a fallen coconut tree and caused traffic jam on January 21 morning. Board Member Bienvenido Molina, who passed by the area and confirmed the traffic snafu.
Flooding
In a text message, Bein-Unido Mayor Nino Rey Boniel said flooding of the provincial road at barangay Togbongon section “is most risky due to eroded base.” Quoting information relayed to him by Mayor Ricardo Suarez of Sagbayan town, the governor said that the areas of the town hall and public market were submerged at knee-deep for the first time in recent history. Chatto rushed Thursday to the town to see and get first hand information for himself. In Garcia-Hernandez town, some portions of sitio Balingasag, barangay East Poblacion were partly underwater due to the overflow of Manaba river, the main source of irrigation system here, said barangay chairman Felipe Cuares. But there's no cause for alarm, he added in a cell phone interview yesterday. Molina said that heavy downpour caused some damage of rice farms in his hometown, Alicia, but no estimate was reported yet. Affected barangays with rice farms already planted included, Napo, Cayacay, Progreso, Pagahat and neighboring villages. Water from irrigation overflowed when there's high tide at the same time because its outlet was within the Cogtong Bay in Candijay town.
Residents of barangay Guinsularan, Duero town were advised to safer grounds when Lobogon river was flooded. The river cuts across the boundary of Duero and Guindulman towns. The overflow, which mainly caused by silt buildup downstream, had once detoured down to rice fields. Barangays Lawis, Saa, Luyo, Bungahan and others of Inabanga town, which are considered vulnerable to flash floods because of their location. The barangays were located near the near Inabanga river. Warning was also raised to residents of Loay town and those along the riverbank of Loboc river . The river overflowed resulting in more than a foot high floods.River cruising in Loay and Loboc was suspened when the heavy rains were raging.
Landslides/Evacuation
Gonzaga said a landslide in the highway between Danao and San Miguel took place but this was already cleared while Boniel reported the same occurrence in barangay Abijilan. Quoting information relayed to him by Cortes Mayor Jasmine Balistoy, Damalerio said that a small landslide at barangay Loreto was already cleared by the Department of Public Works and Highways. PDRRC report bared that a landslide occurred along the national highway in barangay Tubod Norte, Jagna. Also, the highway connecting Tubigon and Catigbian towns via barangay Macaas was reportedly blocked by a landslide.
Response
The governor has mobilized the quick response team to extend assistance or even rescue teams when necessary but he has yet to put the province under the state of disaster. He alerted the provincial offices concerned and national government agencies, including the Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Department, PNP and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines based here. The governor raised the emergency alert for hospitals and told the meeting of the group of medical doctors of provincial-run hospitals who met here last Thursday to be prepared anytime just in case there are those who need their attention and medical care. Chatto also directed the health doctors and workers not to deny any help when needed by those affected or victims. He specifically said that in times like this the hospitals should admit patients needing prior attention and ambulance units must be ready and do away with hospital and usage fees, respectively. He issued travel advisory to all commuters to take other safer routes that may not be prone to flooding on their way home. He said that he requested PAG-ASA to make report every hour to update him or the PDRRMC. He also dispatched the provincial quick response team composed of provincial government offices and national government agencies concerned to evaluate the extent of the calamity and provide, when necessary, assistance to those in need. (With reports from RVO)
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