With skies darkening and humidity building—the kind Cebuanos recognize before a heavy downpour—disaster officials are urging residents, especially those in flood-prone barangays, to prepare early as Cebu braces for a full day of strong rains.
Engineer Al Quiblat, chief of Pagasa Mactan, said on Thursday, December 4, that Cebu may receive 50 to 100 millimeters of rain from Thursday to Friday;
He warned that this volume could trigger flooding in low-lying communities if residents are not prepared.
“Mao na ang atong warning or advisory for 24 hours rainfall, advance information. Ang forecast is today Thursday to Friday,” Quiblat said.
He explained that 50 to 100 mm of rain is equivalent to 250,000 to 500,000 drums of water per square kilometer;
That amount, he added, could easily overwhelm drainage systems once the rainfall intensifies.
“Ang Cebu is possibly to experience 50 to 100 mm of rain buot pasabot ana 250,000 to 500,000 drums per square kilometer area ang ulan nga madawat sa Cebu,” he said.
Quiblat clarified that the rainfall will be spread over 24 hours, but it still presents significant risks.
“Kini siya mao ni ang volume but dili ni kay kausa ra ibubo, 24 hours ni siya, mao ni’y giingong pwede light to moderate or even intense. So pahimangno ni siya nga naa’y kusog nga pag-ulan, daghan,” he said.
“Para katong naa sa mga low-lying areas, prone sa baha, magmatngon in advance. Ang maayong buhaton nila ana mo-coordinate sa ilang local disaster manager for mitigation and preparation. Kaning mga information naka-desseminate na ni sa mga LGU, amo na’ni gipahibaw and kahibaw na sila unsay makabuhat,” he added.
He said Cebuanos should expect stronger rains by Thursday night.
“Syempre, makabaha na ni kani siya 24 hours ni siya. Karong gabie naa tay expected na mga pag-ulan. Sa gabie mag-expect na ta nga kusog-kusog na ang pag-ulan,” he warned.
In a separate interview, Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said barangay captains were alerted early Thursday morning.
“We already properly informed the barangay captains to prepare and [to] possibly conduct evacuation especially [in] flood-prone areas. Amo na gipahibaw sa barangay nga naay coming nga pag-ulan. Ganihang 7:30 in the morning,” he said.
Tumulak assured the public that the city’s emergency response system is fully activated.
“Activated na sad ang emergency operation center, and heavy equipments CCDRRMO backhoe naka in place. 911 is okay na, ready na sad ang communications including back-up power,” he said.
He urged residents, especially those living in danger zones, to evacuate early and avoid complacency.
“We’d like to request our constituents to not be complacent because we already learned lessons from Tino. If you are living [in a] danger zone, please evacuate,” he said.
Wilma brings widespread rains across Visayas and Mindanao
The heavy rainfall warning comes as Tropical Depression Wilma continues to affect major parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Pagasa earlier raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the eastern parts of the Visayas—Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte—as well as Surigao del Norte, Siargao, Bucas Grande Islands, and Dinagat Islands in Mindanao.
Under Signal No. 1, winds of 39 to 61 kph may be felt within 36 hours, with light structural damage possible.
Pagasa said Wilma is expected to produce heavy rainfall of up to 200 millimeters in some areas from Thursday until Friday noon.
Areas forecast to receive 100 to 200 mm of rain:
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
Areas expected to receive 50 to 100 mm of rain, including Cebu:
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Surigao del Norte
• Dinagat Islands
• Agusan del Norte
• Misamis Oriental
• Camiguin
Wilma was last located 625 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar, moving west-southwest at 20 kph. It carried maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gusts of 55 kph.
Pagasa expects Wilma to make landfall in Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands between Friday evening and Saturday morning, then cross the Visayas until December 8 before heading toward Palawan early next week. (LLP)
