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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA and GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Classes were suspended yesterday as many areas, including schools, remained flooded due to heavy rains since Monday night.
While the city was not under any storm signal, monsoon rains flooded streets, schools and villages in the districts of Jaro, La Paz, Molo, and City Proper.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog ordered the suspension of classes in all levels – public and private elementary, high school and college.
There were no reported casualties but office workers were stranded.
Irate Ilonggos vented their ire about the flooded streets on social media, calling on government officials and agencies to address the flooding.
Some blamed the delayed drainage and road projects. Flooding was experienced in areas with ongoing construction of drainage systems and road-widening of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Flashfloods are not new to Iloilo City and these are constantly blamed on clogged drainage systems and the city’s low elevation.
In June 2008, Typhoon “Frank” triggered the worst flooding in the city in decades with floodwaters reaching 10 feet deep in some areas.
EVACUATION
Around 11 p.m. on Monday, 10 families in Barangay Calubihan, Jaro left their houses due to flashfloods. The Dungon Creek overflowed.
“Dungon Creek has been full of silt since Typhoon Frank struck eight years ago,” said Barangay Rammy Guintibano of Calubihan.
The 10 families temporarily stayed at the barangay chapel but around noon yesterday they returned to their houses after the floodwaters subsided.
The families were those of Linda Dela Cruz, Romalyn Baterna, Alexandra Jalbuna, Melody Rico, Ma. Elsie Cala, Rosemarie Cala, Nieva Pacite, Jocelyn Lorque, Michelle Senon, and May Jene Senon.
Guintibano said his barangay council remained on alert.
“We’re monitoring the creek’s water level. It might overflow again,” he said.
Around 20 families in Barangay San Antonio, Oton, Iloilo also left their houses due to flooding yesterday.
“The floodwater reached my waist already,” said a resident who asked to be named only as Salvacion.
DELAYED TRIPS
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Iloilo did not cancel the trips of ships and motorboats bound for Bacolod City and Guimaras Island yesterday despite the inclement weather.
There was no weather advisory that would warrant the cancellation, explained PCG-Iloilo commander Lieutenant Ramil Palabrica.
Still, twice the coastguard delayed for some 15 minutes the trips of Guimaras-bound motorboats on Monday and yesterday due to squall and zero visibility based on actual observations, said Palabrica.
The first PCG-imposed delay was effected on Monday from around 5 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. It also delayed the motorboats’ trips yesterday from 7 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.
Small fishermen were also urged not to venture out too far into the sea. Palabrica said two fishermen were rescued after their boat capsized early morning yesterday in the waters of Botlog Island, Concepcion, Iloilo.
The rescued fishermen were Jhon Arcedi, 24, and Arnel Salongdagit, 27, both of Barangay Igbon, Concepcion.
According to Arcedi, big waves and strong winds capsized their small fishing boat.
They were rescued by the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force./PN
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