Enterprising tricycle drivers in Barangay Dalakit, Catarman town, Northern Samar displayed resiliency after areas which used to be their routes are still covered with floodwater.

The tricycle drivers, such as Cesar Lamberde, used a makeshift raft called locally as “tabaw” to ferry passengers.

The mode of public conveyance allows them to earn daily while they are still reeling from the severe effects of the widespread flooding.

Floodwaters created by excessive rains brought about by the shear line from November 18, 2023 to November 21, 2023 sent thoroughfares inundated. 

The water level reached two storeys high at the lowest ground level and about 10 feet at the highest ground level.

As of this posting, the water level is still knee-high in a number of ‘puroks’ (sub-villages) in Barangay Dalakit.

The tricycle drivers said that they are used to flooding in many areas in their barangay, but the massive flooding on November 21, 2023 still caught them off guard. 

The flooding affected over 100,000 families in the Province of Northern Samar.