Metro Cebu and Mandaue City submerged due to heavy downpour lasted for several hours since Monday night causing stranded numerous commuters and heavy traffic in the city.
The three major creeks in Barangay Tipolo in Mandaue, Panagdait in Cebu City and Mahiga Creek that crosses both cities were overflowed and blamed the flooding.
The flood water rose up to five feet in different Puroks and Branggays and devastated properties and other belongings.
In downtown area, Mang Andoy carinderia partner owner Francis Balbero said that flood was up to knee-deep that enter inside the store that hampered and do away business that day. He said flooding in the area is normal during heavy downpour that lasted several hours because drainage system has the problem that cannot hold too much water.
The flood caused terrible traffic. People stops from all normal doings. They were stuck on the roadside for several hours waiting for the water to subside, he said.
“Traffic was a mess today (Tuesday),” said Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Chairman Sylvan Jakosalem.
Streets and highways between Metro Cebu and Mandaue City traffic piled up because motorists and drivers were searching for alternative routes to avoid the floodwater.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said there is a need for the City Governments of Cebu and Mandaue to work hand-in-hand in developing drainage system to prevent another round of flooding.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Samuel Chioson said what happened hindered business activities and should remind the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of their responsibility.
Some residents in different areas of Metro Cebu stayed on their roof-top due to the height of flood.
Several cl(–foul word(s) removed–) in occupying ground floor in elementary schools in Tipolo and Guizo Mandaue City were suspended for the reason that most of the rooms on the ground floor were flooded.
Bad weather condition on Monday late afternoon cancelled six flights bound for Manila and diverted to Cebu City.
The Mactan weather bureau said the heavy rain last Monday late afternoon was caused by a low pressure area somewhere in Eastern Samar. But the said low pressure did not develop into a typhoon.
Al Quiblat, weather forecaster, said the downpour made the rainfall for the month of June above normal. Normal rainfall is at 181mm but it reached 200mm on Monday night.
But Quiblat said it is not a sign of La Niña yet. No typhoon hit the country in June but come July, two to three typhoons are expected to hit the country.
The flooding again called attention to every concerned party from city down to barangay officials to take action of the said problem of drainage system.