PILI, Camarines Sur (PIA) — Thirty (30) municipalities in Camarines Sur experienced massive flooding due to a shear line that affected most areas in the province after almost 2 (two) days of heavy rainfall.

In the latest report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as of noontime on Dec. 20, Tuesday, the number of evacuees rose from an initial 167 families to 1,893 or 7,562 individuals after the incessant downpour. 

From 12 barangays submerged by floodwater on Sunday, the affected areas climbed to 86 overnight after the continuous rainfall that caused most rivers and spillways to swell.

Out of the 30 flooded towns,  there were 4 (four) recorded landslide incidents. The widespread flooding also affected a total of 16 roads, 2 bridges, and 26 spillways, mostly located in the Eastern part of Camarines Sur.  

There were also reports of landslide incidents in the municipalities of  Lagonoy, Presentacion, Garchitorena, and Lupi.

As per the report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 4th District Engineering Office (DEO),  as of press time, only one lane is passable along San Sebastian Section(K0504+750) along the Lagonoy-Presentacion Road. 

Only one lane at Zone 4,  Brgy. Sta. Maria  in the coastal town of Presentacion town is passable.  Barangays Bagong Sirang, Presentacion, and Adiangao, San Jose road are now passable after DPWH cleared the sudden down-slope movement of soil and rocks.

DPWH DEO IV also reported a collapsed riprap along the g Pili-Tigaon-Albay-Bdry. Rd. (K0473+500- K0473+540) around 9:00 AM, December 19.

Barangays Burabod to Cagamutan road in Garchitorena and Brgy. San Pedro in Lupi also reported slope movements due to the persistent rain during the last couple of days.

Forty-four (44) passengers were stranded in the seaports of Pasacao and Tamban, Camarines Sur.

CamSur PDRRMC’s swift response

On Dec. 18, Sunday, Gov. Vincenzo Renato Luigi Reyes Villafuerte issued a Red Alert Status, and directives on the  suspension of work and classes at all levels on the next day.

The Provincial Emergency Operations (EOC)  headed by PDRRMC Secretariat and Environment, Disaster Management, and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) Chief, Luzena N. Bermeo and the  Response Cluster were activated.   

The Communications team also worked around the clock to ensure that all warnings, advisories, and urgent weather-related information are delivered on time to the province's 1,036 barangays, MDRRMOs, and CDRRMOs.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued Sea Travel Advisory and directed all watercraft with 250 gross tonnages and below not to sail and venture into the open sea.

Responders were also pre-positioned in various staging areas, particularly in hazard-prone municipalities where heavy flooding was reported. 

The staging area for District I is at Sipocot MDRRMO, District 3 was handled by the Emergency Operations Center at the Capitol Complex in Pili, and Staging Area for District 4 was at the 83rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army at Mabalodbalod, Tigaon, Camarines Sur.

DPWH’s maintenance crew and heavy equipment were on standby for deployment in any areas that may need immediate assistance. Various DPWH DEOs also installed road safety devices, and warning signage at the Pili-Tigaon-Albay Boundary Road, and monitored landslide and flood-prone areas in national roads and bridges,  among others.

PDRRMC regularly conducted virtual EOC meetings with Provincial DRRM councils and local DRRM officers for weather updates and monitoring. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)