Mandaue steps up rainy season preparations despite Bavi threat

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – The Mandaue City government is stepping up its preparations for the rainy season despite expectations that Super Typhoon Bavi, which will be named Inday upon entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), will not directly affect the city.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Buddy Alain Ybañez said information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicates only a slim chance that the super typhoon will make landfall in Luzon, with Batanes being the most likely area to be affected.

However, he said the city remains on alert due to the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, which is expected to bring intermittent rains and thunderstorms over the coming days.

READ: Super Typhoon Bavi may enter PAR Tuesday evening, to be called Inday

Ybañez said residents should expect sudden downpours even during periods of extreme heat, noting that weather conditions at this time of year can quickly shift from hot to rainy.

“According sa PAGASA, naay isolated heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms. Pasabot nga kung mag-uwan, dili sad kaayo dugay. Naa sad panahon nga kung mag-uwan, dali ra pero kusog. Mao na ang atong bantayanan karong panahona,” said Ybañez.

(According to PAGASA, there will be isolated heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms. This means that when it rains, it may not last very long. There will also be times when the rain is brief but intense. Those are the weather conditions we need to watch out for at this time.)

To prepare for the possible impacts of the rainy season, the city has instructed barangays to strengthen their disaster preparedness measures and keep residents informed of potential weather hazards.

The CDRRMO has also been updating Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans and contingency plans over the past two months, focusing on each barangay’s top hazards, including flooding, fire, and landslides.

READ: Evacuations ordered in preparation for Super Typhoon Bavi

As part of its preparedness campaign, the city has launched community evacuation drills across its five clusters, with the first exercise recently conducted in the Kadagatan Cluster.

Beginning July 15, Mandaue City will also hold a series of Resilience Forums to educate residents and Barangay Emergency Response Teams on disaster preparedness and community resilience.

The city is likewise set to conduct a Barangay Emergency Response Team Challenge and a Resilience Decathlon for public school students to further promote disaster awareness.

Ybañez added that the city continues to review the readiness of its drainage systems, dredging operations, infrastructure projects, and evacuation centers through regular coordination meetings led by City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo Malig-on.

He said barangays are also updating their camp management plans for every identified evacuation center to ensure a more organized response during emergencies.

Meanwhile, the City Engineering Office has continued its declogging operations in drainage systems across different parts of the city to prevent flooding and ensure the unhampered flow of rainwater.

The regular cleanup forms part of the city’s ongoing disaster preparedness efforts ahead of the rainy season.

During the operations, authorities found that accumulated garbage and other debris were the primary causes of clogged drainage canals. The city government has urged residents to dispose of their waste properly and help keep their surroundings clean to minimize the risk of flooding.

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