Mindoro town fears Opong despite almost 40 flood control projects

Despite over P6-billion worth of flood control projects in their area, residents of the flood-prone municipality of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro expressed their concerns as Severe Tropical Storm Opong draws nearer to the province.

With 37 flood control projects, the town is the most flooded area in the island, according to official data.

According to Bea Pinlac’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” Flora Madrigal is among the locals who  are not just used to, but also fed up with floods.

The grandmother of six young children was busy putting her family’s belongings on higher ground to avoid being submerged in seasonal floodwater.

“Sana huwag na po ulit kaming datnan ng tubig na ganyan kaso may papadating na naman na bagyo. Isipin niyo, ililigtas ko mga apo. Anim po iyan. Ang liliit,” Madrigal said, adding that they may sleep on the table instead of the bed to avoid getting wet.

(I hope that water will not enter once again, but another storm is coming. I have six young grandchildren. They are still small.)

“Sobrang sakit po. Nangangamba po talaga ako. Kako baka tataas pa eh saan ko pa kako dadalhin ang mga bata,” Madrigal further said.

(It really hurts. I’m very worried. If the flood rises, I don’t know where I will take my grandchildren.)

Oriental Mindoro is the ninth most flood-prone area in the country, based on data acquired by GMA Integrated News Research from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Naujan is identified as the most flood-prone area in the province, where 37 of the almost 140 flood control projects in the Oriental Mindoro are located.

The total cost of these projects is more than P6 billion, which makes it all the more painful for people like Madrigal, who have to endure the floods time and time again despite their presence.

“Ang hirap talaga kapag binabaha. Sana naman po masolusyunan po. Kami nagsa-sacrifice. Ang hirap. Sila nag-mamasarap. Pinagawa nalang sana nila nang tama para hindi na maghirap ang mga tao na binabaha,” she said.

(Dealing with the flood is very difficult. I hope there’s a solution. We’re the ones sacrificing. It’s hard. Meanwhile they live in luxury. They should instead use the public funds properly so that people are spared the floods.)

Two flood control projects in Barangay Pinagsabangan II in Naujan were declared completed, according to the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.

According to barangay officials, there are two more projects in their area, where one is still being constructed.

“Nangyari lang siguro talaga na sa sobrang lakas ng tubig, marami pang butas ‘yan. Kulang pa talaga ‘yung flood control na iyan,” Barangay Captain Ogie Pagkaliwagan said, adding that more flood control projects are needed.

(It could be that the water was too strong and there are still many gaps. More flood control projects are needed.)

One of the dikes is only a few kilometers long, so when the river’s current becomes stronger, the parts without dikes become breached, resulting to rice fields and houses being submerged in water.

Pagkaliwagan said responders are on alert should the river overflow, since water reaches their roads.

Classes and work in the government office in Oriental Mindoro have been suspended on Friday. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News