Heavy rain from LPA floods parts of Leyte

BY MARIE TONETTE MARTICIO

Jul 18, 2024 10:11 AM

  

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TACLOBAN CITY – Heavy rain from a low-pressure area flooded Albuera, Matag-ob, Palompon, Isabel, Merida, Baybay City, and Ormoc City in Leyte on Wednesday, July 17.

Waist-deep flood rendered the Isabel-Palompon Road impassable to all kinds of vehicles from 4 to 10 p.m., particularly in Barangays Rizal, Taberna, and Tabunok in Palompon.

Palompon Mayor Ramon Oñate said that all roads are now passable with no casualty reported.

“We are waiting for the results of the crops assessment and so far only one hanging bridge in Barangay Cangmoya was swept by floods,” he said.

Isabel Mayor Edgardo Cordeño said that flood has subsided in their municipality as of Thursday morning, July 18.

He added that they will hold a meeting on Thursday morning to assess the damage caused by the flood. 

In Matag-ob, Mayor Bernandino Tacoy said that the water level in Barangay Riverside irrigation reached critical level on Wendesday night.

Residents of Barangay Masaba evacuated to the town evacuation center.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Office reported that the water level in the main river is decreasing but it remains on the red (evacuation) level on Thursday morning.

“According to residents in Barangay Riverside, the water level overflowed around 11 p.m., causing minor flooding in some houses. Everyone is still urged to remain cautious, as there is a possibility that floodwaters could rise or landslides could occur,” the MDRRMO said.

Eastern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, and Southern Leyte is under a yellow rainfall warning as of 8 a.m. Thursday due to heavy rain from the LPA.

Borongan hosts Miss Earth-PH beachwear tilt

BY MARIE TONETTE MARTICIO

Apr 27, 2024 10:34 AM

  

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BORONGAN CITY – The Miss Philippines-Earth beachwear competition aims to increase the awareness on how to protect the environment and natural resources. 

Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda here said the Miss Philippines-Earth held the first-ever beachwear competition by the beach on Thursday, April 25, that aims to encourage the people, especially the youth, to participate in all the programs of this city, especially climate adaptation projects.

THE winning candidates in the Miss Earth-Philippines beachwear competition. 

Recently, the city government received a $50,000 grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropist Foundation in New York City for youth climate action initiatives.

"We have the responsibility as a Borongananon to protect these natural resources, especially our trees," Agda said, citing that 60 percent of this city's land area is composed of timberland.

Although he said that Borongan is a national highway for typhoons since they usually originate from the Pacific Ocean, Agda said that this city is not directly hit because of Eastern Samar's thick forest. 

Miss Philippines-Earth candidate Ira Patricia Malaluan from Batangas City lauded this city's initiative to protect its forest while promoting agriculture.

"I'm just really glad how Borongan really immersed us into tree-planting and other environmental activities, as well as the people because that's really important," she said.

Merryjoy Dayrit from Bustos, Bulacan commended Borongan's initiative to strike a balance by planting more trees despite the presence of mining activities in Eastern Samar.

"Kudos to Borongan and the local government officials in ensuring not only the betterment of the communities but also to protect the environment as well."

Sam Samara from Makati City won gold, Kristel Codas from Iligan City silver, and Irha Mel Inutan Alfeche from Matanao, Davao del Sur bagged bronze in the beachwear competition.

Torrential rain, flood continue to batter Eastern Visayas

Published January 11, 2023, 11:02 AM

by Marie Tonette Marticio, MB 

TACLOBAN CITY – Hundreds of families fled their homes and work and classes remain suspended in some areas in Eastern Visayas due to incessant rain and flood on Wednesday, Jan. 11. 

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone appealed to the Department of Agriculture to provide rice-certified seeds to farmers as all of the crops in their province have been destroyed by flooding.

He called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development to distribute food to 12,101 individuals staying in evacuation centers.

All national roads in Eastern Samar are passable to all types of vehicles except in Barangay Bigo, Arteche, which remain flooded as of Wednesday morning.

Motorists from Arteche bound for Jipapad and vice versa may take the alternate route via Barangay Imelda, Lapinig- Jipapad Road.

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan extended the suspension of classes on all levels due to the inclement weather caused by a low-pressure area.

Landslides triggered by heavy flooding were reported in the municipalities of Catubig, Mondragon, Las Navas, Catarman, Laoang, Lope de Vega, and Mapanas. 

In Catubig, some residents rode boats on flooded streets as well as local government unit personnel who rescued families trapped in their homes.

Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan ordered the suspension of classes on all levels in public and private schools and work in all government offices.

Several vehicles were stranded by flood in a portion of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tulay in Santa Rita, Samar on Tuesday due to non-stop rain.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, the road was passable to all types of vehicles.

The municipalities of Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Maripipi, Almeria, Culaba, Kawayan, and Naval in Biliran province suspended work and classes.

Naval Mayor Gretchen Espina said some families from landslide-prone areas fled to the evacuation center in Barangay Larrazabal.

A section of the Biliran-Naval Road is impassable to all types of vehicles due to the Catmon Detour Bridge submerged by continuous heavy rain as of 7:40 a.m. Wednesday.

Motorists were advised to use the alternate routes Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road-Caibiran-Cabucgayan-Biliran for light vehicles and Naval-Almeria-Kawayan-Culaba-Caibiran-Cabucgayan-Biliran for heavy vehicles.