FIVE children from Sitio Pangutana in Barangay Apas, Cebu City were almost swept away by the surging water that was brought about by the heavy rain yesterday.
Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman said the children were several meters from the riverbank when the water level suddenly rose.
Residents immediately brought the children to a safer place.
Ayuman said the barangay immediately called the parents, who were out, and returned the children.
Based on the information gathered by the Apas Quick Response Team, the children were identified as Ina Costelo, six years old, and her younger siblings Jecho, five; Nicie, three; and Jaymart, one.
Assistance
Ayuman said the children were going to a neighbor’s house near the river.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Ayuman said he will ask the City Government to dredge the river and to improve the area’s drainage system.
“Kailangan jud na palawoman ang sapa dira kay sa pagkakaron naggamay gyud siya. Mao ra gyud na ang solution diha para ang tubig di mo-overflow kung dunay kusog nga uwan (We need to deepen the river. That’s the only solution to the water overflowing problem),” he said.
The water in Sitio Pangutana, Ayuman said, reached waist deep after yesterday’s heavy rain. The water level subsided, he said, when the rain stopped.
Aside from Apas, Barangays Parian and Tejero also experienced immediate flooding after yesterday’s heavy rain, said the City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
