Floodwaters from Ulysses slowly subsiding in Cagayan towns

Several barangays in Cagayan province and in Tuguegarao City remain flooded on Sunday due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, but the floodwaters are slowly subsiding, according to disaster risk reduction and management officials.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Jacinto Adviento, head of Alcala, Cagayan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said at least seven barangays in the town are still flooded, although the water is slowly subsiding.

"Sa mga flood-prone barangays namin, lubog pa rin sa baha hanggang ngayon kasi bumaba lang ang tubig nang 1.5 meters," he said.

Adviento reported that two individuals died from their town due to electrocution, one of which has already been found and the other is a subject of a retrieval operation.

At least 12,000 individuals remain evacuated in the town's three designated evacuation centers, Adviento said.

Nevertheless, there are also some residents who chose to remain in their houses, he added.

"Marami 'yung mga naiwan sa mga bahay nila, hindi nila maiwanan. At 'yung mga naiwan doon, hindi na talaga namin nakayanan. Kasi sabay-sabay 'yung pito hanggang limang barangay na humihingi ng saklolo sa amin," Adviento said.

For those who chose to remain in their houses, Adviento said the local government brings them cooked food and water.

"Ang bilin ng mayor namin na lahat ng padala namin sa mga na-stranded sa mga bahay nila ay 'yung mga lutong pagkain na," he said.

Camalaniugan, Cagayan

Meanwhile, Tristan Aquino, head of the Camalaniugan, Cagayan MDRRMO, said on Dobol B sa News TV that at least seven barangays in the town also remain flooded as of the moment, with waters reaching the waist up to the chest.

But like in Alcala, the floodwaters in Camalaniugan are also slowly subsiding, he added.

The local government unit in Camalaniugan has implemented forced evacuation as early as Tuesday last week, Aquino said, and many of its residents are now in an evacuation center.

There are currently no reports of casualties in the town, he added.

For now, Aquino said what the residents need the most are food, water, and clothing, as many of them have lost theirs due to the massive flooding.

Tuguegarao City

In Tuguegarao, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Maria Soledad Sapp reported that the barangays of Linao East, Linao West and Linao North remain flooded, but floodwaters are already slowly subsiding as well.

She said rescuers are having a hard time reaching the flooded residents due to the strong floodwater currents.

"'Yung nandu'n sa bubungan, nailikas natin. 'Yung iba doon, lumilipat sa kanilang kapitbahay o kaanak at mas pinili nila doon na lang sa pangalawang palapag ng kanilang bahay. Safe naman daw sila at meron silang enough na supplies," Sapp said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Patuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay ng kanilang kinakailangan at 'yung kinakailangang ilikas," she said.

There are two reported deaths in Tuguegarao, Aquino said, one of which is a responder from the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries who got electrocuted while the other is a resident of Linao East who died from drowning.

Three other individuals were also injured due to electrocution, and they were in the same boat with the responder from BFAR who died, she added.

Like in other municipalities, there are also some residents in Tuguegarao City who chose to remain in their houses despite the flooding, Aquino said.

"Merong mangilan-ngilan na nagre-request. Kaya lang kapag pinupuntahan naman doon, ayaw na. Kaya minsan, doon din naa-ano ang ating LGU dahil may mga ibang bumabatikos na nagpo-post sa social media na matagal na kami dito, walang rumeresponde pero kapag nirerespondehan, 'yun ang problema. Either wala doon o hindi sumasama," she said.

For now, Aquino said they are trying their best to provide all the needs of the affected residents.

"Sinisikap ng ating LGU at ng lahat ng mga kasamahan nating mga volunteer responders at implementing team na matugunan agad ang mga pangangailangan nila. Kaya lang hirap din ang ating mga kasamahan sa ground dahil sa lakas ng agos ng tubig," she said.

At least 37 people are died and 15 are missing in five regions affected by Typhoon Ulysses, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Saturday.

In its 5 p.m. update, the NDRRMC said that 37 fatalities, 22 injuries, and 15 missing persons were reported in Regions II, Calabarzon, V and CAR. —KG, GMA News