Treñas urges concerned agencies to address flood problem
By Vincent P. Grecia
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas expressed alarm over the occurrence of flood in almost half of the city’s 180 barangays last Tuesday, August 29, due to the torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by typhoon Goring.
Treñas observed that the floods experienced in the city recently was most severe ever since Typhoon Frank in June 2008.
With this Treñas urged the concerned agencies to meet in order to address the problem.
“I ask the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), and the academic community together with other experts to sit down with the LGUs in Iloilo province on the recent floods brought about by the strong rains. For the first time in Iloilo City, areas which were not previously flooded experienced intense flooding,” Treñas said in a press statement.
He urged the concerned agencies to study the situation seriously so that “we can prevent similar occurrences in the future”, noting that the projects of the DPWH in the future should be able to prevent “the same to preclude damage to property and worst, loss of lives.”
“On our part, we need to intensify our efforts for tree planting; conversion to renewable energy; bigger drainage systems; more pumping stations; more cisterns; more rain water harvesting facilities; and other measures,” he added.
Data from Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) indicated that as of 6:00 A.M., Aug. 30, 2023, a total of 90 areas in the metro became flooded; while around 12,000 individuals transferred to evacuation centers as of Aug 29, 2023.
Jaro district has the most number of flooded barangays with 24, followed by Mandurriao with 16, City Proper with 13, Arevalo with 12, Molo and La Paz with 10 and Lapuz with five barangays.
The city mayor also thanked the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) for the assistance they gave to the residents, making sure that everyone has enough food.
CSWDO reported that they have distributed 2,561 packs of relief goods to the evacuees while the City Health Office provided Doxycycline as prophylaxis for leptospirosis for 5,093 individuals.
Meanwhile, classes from preschool to senior high school in both public and private academic institutions in Iloilo City were also suspended from August 29 until August 30, 2023. (with reports from PIA6 Iloilo)
