ILOILO City – An unusually high tide reaching 1.68 meters early Monday morning, July 21, prompted the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to issue a flood alert for low-lying coastal barangays as climate-related sea level surges grow more frequent.
“This morning’s extreme high tide was significantly above normal levels, and we are expecting similar or possibly higher surges in the coming days based on current projections,” said CDRRMO head Donna Magno.
The CDRRMO is advising residents in flood-prone and coastal barangays to remain alert, especially those located near rivers, estuaries, and shorelines.
The high tide was recorded at approximately 6:26 a.m. A low tide was expected at 0.19 meters by around 3:35 p.m., but Magno cautioned that tidal and weather conditions remain unpredictable.
The city government has placed barangays in Molo, Jaro, and Lapuz districts under close observation due to their susceptibility to tidal flooding. Barangay disaster response units have been mobilized to pre-position warning devices and help monitor water levels in vulnerable communities.
Magno stressed the need for proactive public participation, urging residents to promptly alert authorities about rising waters, seawater intrusion, or clogged drainage.
“Timely reporting from communities is crucial in managing these situations before they escalate,” she emphasized.
The CDRRMO’s Emergency Operations Center is providing hourly updates and maintain coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and related agencies. Risk assessments are ongoing, particularly as the city braces for intensified rains and potential typhoons in the coming weeks.
Residents are advised to secure belongings, avoid wading in floodwaters to prevent health and electrical hazards, and follow official advisories.
Evacuation protocols remain on standby for worst-case scenarios.
With sea level anomalies increasingly tied to climate change and Iloilo City’s topography, local officials are eyeing long-term solutions — such as enhanced drainage infrastructure, coastal defense systems, and community-based early warning networks — to better protect vulnerable communities.
Currently, several barangays in Iloilo City’s Jaro district are reeling from recent flooding. Residents of Camalig, Lanit, Tagbak, Balantang, and Buntatala endured chest-deep flooding — the worst these areas have experienced — despite only moderate rainfall. The floodwaters invaded homes and severely disrupted livelihoods. They pointed to an ongoing engineering project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) at Buntatala Creek as the root cause.
One of the projects in question involves the construction of slope protection along a portion of the creek in Barangay Buntatala, Jaro. The structure, residents say, has significantly narrowed the waterway, obstructed the natural flow of water, and caused upstream water to back up, leading to localized flooding in their communities./PN
