SOUTHERN Cebu faced widespread flooding early Tuesday as Tropical Depression Verbena made landfall in Talisay City around 2:14 a.m., moving quickly toward Negros.
The storm comes on the heels of northern Cebu’s recent challenges, including a September earthquake and Typhoon Tino in November.
Dennis Pastor, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the province’s early preparation and evacuation measures helped prevent casualties.
“This is the best response, zero casualties,” Pastor said in an interview on Tuesday.
He reported flooding in Ronda, Dumanjug, and Barili, while Carcar City experienced temporary inundation due to an overflowing spillway. Some rice fields remain submerged, but roads are now passable.
Provincial responders were pre-positioned in southwestern Cebu ahead of Verbena’s landfall, enabling immediate action in affected towns.
Pastor praised local residents for following evacuation advisories.
“Non-complacent. If you’re complacent, you’re affected. But if you respond, the LGU will evacuate,” he said.
In Carcar City, residents were moved to the city gym as early as Monday.
Mayor Patrick Barcenas confirmed that about 300 families were affected but highlighted that early evacuations prevented injuries or deaths.
Flooding in the city was worsened by incomplete spillway construction and overflowing drainage channels.
Barili was also hit hard, with 126 families, or 425 individuals, affected across barangays including Poblacion, Manga, Paril, Sta. Ana, San Rafael, and Libongan.
The Sta. Ana River overflowed between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., bringing water from the mountains into surrounding communities.
Many residents were surprised by the depth of flooding.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro commended local officials for their swift action, particularly the proactive evacuation efforts.
She postponed a planned Manila trip to personally oversee relief operations and ensure residents’ safety.
Baricuatro directed the PDRRMO to continue monitoring affected areas and promised additional assistance for families with damaged poultry and agricultural livelihoods.
Baricuatro also noted that the provincial disaster office lacks sufficient equipment for flood response, prompting emergency procurement.
She said she would request further support from the Department of Public Works and Highways under the Kontra Baha program to aid dredging efforts in Carcar City.
While the state of calamity in the province remains active, classes have resumed, and authorities continue to assess infrastructure damage following the storm.
