CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Responders are monitoring riverside communities here, particularly five eastern barangays, for possible flooding due to tropical depression “Kabayan.”

COAST Guard District-Northern Mindanao prepares personnel for disaster response in areas affected by tropical depression ‘Kabayan.’ (PCG-Northern Mindanao FB)

These are Barangays Bugo, Puerto, Agusan, Cugman, and Tablon, as Kabayan, according to the State weather bureau’s forecast, is expected to cross some parts of Bukidnon, Nick Jabagat, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD), said on Monday, December 18.

Rainfall from the towns of Malitbog, Libona, Manolo Fortich, and Baungon in Bukidnon, he said, could affect the five eastern barangays.

“The crucial part is that we still haven’t established our early warning devices, and we only rely on our rain gauges. So, we still have blind spots. That is why we intensify our coordination with the neighboring municipalities,” Jabagat said.

He added that the rain gauge in Manolo Fortich could only monitor a two-kilometer radius but they have coordinated with their “spotters” or informers to receive up-to-date monitoring on the rainfall situation in these municipalities.

As of 1 p.m., December 18, Kabayan (international name of “Jelawat”), slightly weakened and in the vicinity of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. Kabayan made landfall over Barangay Concepcion, Manay town, Davao Oriental, three hours earlier at 9:30 a.m.

The Cagayan de Oro River on the Puntod, Pelaez, Cabula, and Uguiaban Birdges remains below alert level as of 1 p.m. on December 18.

The CDRRMD deployed responders and rescuers to assist eastern barangay residents during heavy rainfall after the city government’s pre-disaster assessment on Sunday night, December 17.

Mayor Rolando Uy issued Executive Order No. 420-2023 suspending the classes in public and private pre-schools here. The city government has coordinated with the billboard owners to remove tarpaulins from structures.

Northern Mindanao was placed under Signal No. 1 and is experiencing light to moderate rains as of posting time.

The CDRRMD chief urged residents, especially those from flood- and landslide-prone areas, to continuously monitor the weather and abide by the directives of local authorities.