‘Verbena’ causes flooding in southern Cebu

Local

TROPICAL Depression Verbena caused flooding in southern Cebu but no casualties were reported.

Verbena made landfall in Talisay City at 2:14 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, and moved toward Negros, causing flash floods and affecting several towns here.

Dennis Pastor, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), described the province’s overall response as effective, highlighting that the early evacuation efforts helped prevent casualties.

“This is the best response, zero casualties,” he said in an interview on Tuesday noon.

Pastor said Verbena caused flooding in Ronda, Dumanjug, and Barili, though waters have since subsided.

In Carcar, the city’s spillway overflowed, causing temporary flooding, but all roads are now passable.

However, he noted that some rice fields remain submerged.

“The DRRMMOs are responding effectively. But the capital sent its responders also. Actually, yesterday, I already positioned one team of responders in southwest Cebu. They were able to respond immediately in the areas of Dumanjug, [and] Barili” Pastor said.

Preemptive evacuation

He credited local residents for following preemptive evacuation advisories issued by their local government units.

He noted that everyone complied with the LGU’s instructions to evacuate early and expressed hope that this level of alertness and cooperation would continue in future emergencies.

"Non-complacent. If you're complacent, you're affected. But if you really respond, the LGU will evacuate. This is for the better good of everybody,” Pastor said.

Evacuations in Carcar were organized early, with residents staying at the city gym as early as Monday.

While Pastor did not have the exact number of evacuees, he confirmed that people were also moved from northern towns, including Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue, and Talisay, in preparation for the storm’s landfall in the south.

Regarding infrastructure, Pastor said that while floodwaters have subsided, authorities still need to conduct ongoing assessments.

However, he added that the hospital in Carcar was also flooded but was already being cleaned.

Postponed Manila trip

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro praised local officials for following provincial guidelines and carrying out preemptive evacuations.

She cited Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas for ensuring residents were moved to safety.

"Mao nay deperensiya kung ang Mayor naa gud, so proactive jud. Forced evacuation dayon so mao na, na mitigate nato ang casualty and damages,” she said.

Baricuatro postponed a scheduled trip to Manila to personally monitor the situation and ensure all residents were safe.

“Maong naa jud ko diri because I want to make sure nga everything's alright before I can go to Manila,” she said.

The state of calamity status of the province due to the recent calamities remains active, although the suspension of classes has been lifted.

Barili's flooding

Meanwhile, in Barili, flooding also affected several areas, thus, Baricuatro directed the PDRRMO to closely monitor the situation and provided food packs to residents.

She promised additional support for those whose livelihoods in poultry and agriculture were damaged, noting that the PENRO has funds available to assist affected families.

According to Barili MDRRMO head Richel Montemayor, the affected barangays included Poblacion, Manga, Paril, Sta. Ana, San Rafael, and Libongan.

The Sta. Ana River, the largest river in the municipality, overflowed between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., sending floodwaters from the mountains into surrounding areas.

Many residents were caught off guard, as previous storms had not caused such high waters.

As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, 126 families, or 425 individuals, were affected, though some had already begun returning to their homes. Montemayor said the floodwaters had mostly receded by that time.(MyTVCebu)