STEP aside Charter Change, here comes Climate Change.
Non-stop rains that lasted overnight flooded several towns in Misamis Occidental, Wednesday, Dec. 16, damaging crops, vegetations and washed away small houses in the coastal areas, Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos said.
Speaking over the radio, Ocampos said floods rose in seven municipalities due to continuous rains, which also submerged several urban villages in Ozamiz and Oroquieta cities.
There was no weather disturbance felt the day before and the governor surmised the unexpected rains may have been caused by a fast rising warm air and an unstable sinking cool air mass. This kind of weather is most often met when a cold front is passing.
He noted the overflowing of Layawan River in Oroquieta City and Labo River in Clarin as well as the flood-prone areas in Panaon, Aloran, Jimenez, Tudela and in Sinonoc and Cagay-anon, all in Sinacaban, where schoolchildren refused to attend classes because of the flood.
The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) in Tigdok, Sinacaban was also affected and some of its fish pens were destroyed, Ocampos said. Several guests in the MOAP Hotel were likewise stranded after their walkway was washed out by rainwaters.
“Kalooy sa Diyos walay kinabuhi nga nakalas pero dako kaayo ang damage sa mga fishponds, basakan ug mga balay nga nangaanod,” Ocampos said.
Such a sudden occurrence, according to Ocampos, left them with no recourse but to prioritize relief and rescue operations and the delivery of food, medicines and provisions.
Also, Ocampos assured he will call an emergency meeting with members of the Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council (PDCC) today and tackle the issue of whether to declare the province in state of calamity.
He said the PDCC will try to assess the damages on agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure and will submit this to the media in two days time.
As of press time, the governor reported a zero casualty from the flood as he emphasized that the water level will likely subside by noontime.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & NEPTALIE BATOLENIO