Several municipalities across Oriental Mindoro were inundated by floodwaters early Monday after hours of heavy rainfall, with the town of Roxas suffering the worst impact.
Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor said multiple barangays in Naujan, Victoria, Mansalay, and Roxas were affected by flooding as rains poured. Weather in the Mimaropa region, where Oriental Mindoro belongs, continues to be affected by the low pressure area (LPA) formerly cyclone ‘Wilma.’
As of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 8, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said many villages in Oriental Mindoro remain at risk of possible flash floods due to the effects of the LPA.
The affected rivers and tributaries include Abra de Ilog, Caguray, Labangan, Lumintao, Anahawin, Monpong, Amnay, Pola, Pagbahan, Mamburao, Ibod, and Bugsanga-Magbando.
PAGASA earlier issued a thunderstorm advisory warning of moderate to heavy rain showers over the southern part of Oriental Mindoro at 3:15 a.m. Several residents have already been rescued and evacuated in Roxas, but no official figures are available yet as authorities continue to gather data.
According to Roxas disaster risk reduction and management officer Larry Gabayno, the latest deluge was the worst the town has encountered in decades, noting that the last flooding of similar magnitude occurred in 1995, or 32 years ago.
“Ang lakas ng pag-ulan kaninang madaling araw, mga alas-12:30, hindi namin inaasahan sa tagal namin hindi nakaranas ng ganoon pagbaha sa Roxas ay nasorpresa kami kaninang madaling-araw,” Gabayno said in a phone interview.
Due to the heavy rains, the Madugo River overflowed, inundating around 20 barangays.
Among the flooded villages are Bagumbayan, Cantil, Paclasan, San Isidro, Dangay, San Jose, Libtong, San Aquilino, Victoria, Odiong, Libertad, Uyao, San Mariano, San Vicente, Happy Valley, Maraska, Mabuhay, San Rafael, Little Tanauan, and San Miguel.
Floodwaters reached waist-deep levels in many areas, while in Barangay Bagumbayan, water levels reportedly rose above roof level.
Oriental Mindoro is one of the provinces embroiled in the flood control mess. On November 21, the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 15 others over an alleged ghost project in Oriental Mindoro.
