ILOILO City — More than 263,000 residents across 72 barangays in Iloilo City are at heightened risk of flooding as monsoon rains continue to threaten Western Visayas, prompting authorities to prepare for possible evacuations.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), said the identified flood-prone communities are spread across all seven districts of the city and are home to 263,119 residents, underscoring the scale of the population that could be affected during prolonged or intense rainfall.
Jaro recorded the highest number of high-risk barangays, followed by La Paz, Mandurriao, Arevalo, Molo, Lapuz, and City Proper.
CDRRMO’s Sharry Ledesma said the figures explain why the city remains on heightened alert whenever tropical cyclones or persistent rains threaten the region.
“These are the barangays we closely monitor whenever there is continuous rainfall because they are historically vulnerable to flooding. Our objective is to provide early warnings and immediately implement response measures before the situation worsens,” Ledesma said.
Ledesma said the city government is maintaining constant coordination with barangay officials to closely monitor water levels and determine when evacuations should be carried out.
“Once we notice that water levels are rapidly increasing, we immediately assess whether evacuation is already necessary, especially for families living in low-lying communities,” she said.
Ledesma noted that while drainage and flood-control improvements have reduced flooding in some areas, extreme weather events can still overwhelm existing infrastructure.
“Even if drainage improvements have been implemented, prolonged or intense rainfall can still result in flooding. That’s why preparedness and timely response remain very important,” Ledesma explained.
The disaster official also urged residents, particularly those living in flood-prone communities, to closely monitor official weather advisories and prepare for possible emergencies.
“Stay alert, prepare your emergency kits, and report immediately to your barangay or the CDRRMO if floodwaters begin to rise,” she said.
Ledesma likewise reminded families not to delay evacuation when authorities issue preemptive evacuation orders.
“We always advise families not to wait until floodwaters become too deep. If authorities recommend preemptive evacuation, it’s always safer to leave early than to risk getting trapped in your homes,” Ledesma added./PN
