THE Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office evacuates residents affected by heavy flooding on Thursday, July 16. (Bantay Mandaue-CDRRMO)
CEBU CITY – Traffic snarled when major thoroughfares were flooded due to sudden downpour here on Wednesday, July 16.
Several passengers were stranded while the downpour caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) led to suspension of classes and sea trips cancelations.
The Cebu City Social Welfare Services (CCSWS) reported that 62 families or 263 individuals were affected by the flood, most of who were from Barangay Cogon Pardo.
The ill-effects of the inclement weather enhanced by tropical depression "Crising" were also felt on Thursday, July 17.
Several local government units in Cebu declared suspension of classes on all levels.
In Talisay City, Cebu, a landslide in Barangay Lagtang damaged a house and rendered a road impassable. No injuries were reported.
Francis Dennis Pastor, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said families living near the area were immediately evacuated.
Over 20 local government units in Cebu, including Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, suspended face-to-face classes on all levels as schools were advised to shift to modular or asynchronous learning.
Among the LGUs that cancelled classes were Daanbantayan, Santa Fe, Samboan, Medellin, Alcoy, Tabogon, Bogo City, Santander, San Remigio, Minglanilla, Malabuyoc, Sogod, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Alcantara, Dalaguete, Oslob, Ginatilan, and Badian.
The Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas (PCG-7) suspended voyages of vessels 35 gross tonnage and below in northern Cebu and 15 gross tonnage and below in western Bohol due to rough sea conditions.
“Vessels allowed to sail are further reminded to take precautionary measures and be extra vigilant in monitoring the weather,” said PCG-7 spokesperson Ensign Abel Lomboy.
The State weather bureau said Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas should brace for moderate to heavy rains until Saturday, July 19, due to the ongoing southwest monsoon enhanced by Crising.