Cavite eyes relocation of 1,300 coastal families after storm surge

A storm surge inundated coastal communities in Tanza, Cavite due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, sending floodwaters into homes and forcing residents to evacuate.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Jonathan Andal, the local government said it is considering relocating around 1,300 families from 13 coastal barangays in the province starting next year.

The families will be provided with free housing, the report said.

The storm surge in Barangay Halayhay damaged homes and left furniture, beds, kitchen equipment and other belongings submerged or destroyed.

The sandbags lined up by residents along the coast proved no match for the waves that rose higher than the roofs of homes.

Melanie Blanco recalled being struck by a piece of wood as floodwaters entered her home.

"Dapat wala nang tao sa tabing-dagat. Iyong iba naman nabigyan ng pabahay kaso ang naging problem, bumalik-balik dyan, binenta nila ang bahay," Tanza Mayor Archangel Matro said. "Pag nailikas namin sila, sisiguraduhin namin na hindi na sila babalik doon."

(There should no longer be anyone living along the shoreline. Some of them were given housing, but the problem is that they kept returning there and sold the houses. Once we relocate them, we will make sure they do not return there.)

A resident, Rowena Bagtas, said relocation would take them away from their source of livelihood.

Cavite Governor Abeng Remulla said the local government could arrange for free transportation to take them to their place of work.

The victims of the storm surge appealed for materials to reconstruct their homes as well as food and clothes. GMA Kapuso Foundation provided relief packs to the affected families.

In Barangay Medicion in Imus, Cavite, floodwaters reached above head level.

The Cavite Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said around 25 percent of Imus was submerged in floodwaters.

In Kawit town, relief packs were distributed using bancas as floodwater remained waist-deep in some areas.

Residents of Barangay Marulas said the waterway leading to the river had narrowed after soil and other materials were used to fill part of the channel for the foundation of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

Pats Mellora lamented they were not consulted on the project.

But Remulla said, “For now, we have not seen any indication that CALAX has had an impact. We will get the full report and inform the residents."

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which is developing CALAX through a subsidiary, said that, "Based on initial site inspections, there is no indication at this time that construction activities directly caused the reported flooding. Drainage facilities and culverts have been incorporated into the project design, with some works completed and others ongoing."

"Following the recent flooding, our engineering team is conducting further inspections of waterways and drainage conditions to identify possible bottlenecks and help maintain unobstructed water flow. Efforts are also being undertaken in certain areas to help maintain waterways and drainage channels, in coordination with local stakeholders," it added.

Remulla said he believes the province's waterways were covered by trash, and that the local government is conducting clearing operations. He also said he has requested Cavite's masterplan from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but that the agency has yet to respond.

GMA News has reached out to the DPWH for its reply. —LDF, GMA News