Cebu City's Flood Response Exposed by Typhoon Tino
The powerful flooding brought by Typhoon Tino has revealed critical gaps in Cebu City's disaster response capabilities, with numerous barangays still lacking essential rescue boats. This alarming situation has prompted the City Council to take immediate action.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has formally requested Mayor Nestor Archival to purchase rescue boats and specialized flood-rescue equipment for flood-prone barangays as preparation for future calamities. The move comes after recent flooding highlighted the city's vulnerability during severe weather events.
Emergency Resolution for High-Risk Communities
A newly approved resolution, championed by Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito, prioritizes communities near rivers and repeatedly flooded areas. These locations require equipment that can operate where ordinary vehicles and even large rescue units cannot reach.
Inflatable rescue boats would allow responders to reach families trapped inside their homes or stranded in elevated sections of flooded zones. This specialized equipment could mean the difference between life and death during emergency situations.
Community Heroes Emerge Amid Crisis
The flooding revealed not just institutional gaps but also community resilience. Fifteen-year-old Jayboy Magdadaro, a Grade 9 student from Barangay Jubay in Liloan, Cebu, became an unexpected hero during the disaster.
Using his family's floatation device, the teenager rescued approximately 50 individuals who were trapped in their homes by rising floodwaters. Following this courageous act, many have celebrated Jayboy as a local hero and praised his selfless actions during the emergency.
The proposed distribution of rescue boats to barangays is expected to reduce response delays and prevent potential loss of life. As of Tuesday, November 18, two weeks after the typhoon, six residents remain missing according to the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Rescue teams have pledged to continue search operations for the missing individuals to the best of their ability, addressing the anxious waiting and hope of grieving relatives. Meanwhile, the disaster has prompted calls for residents to take personal responsibility for their safety.
Experts recommend that residents prepare their own flood survival equipment such as life jackets or floatation devices that can be purchased online. For those preferring DIY solutions, creating floaters from used plastic bottles provides a cost-effective alternative that requires only effort and creativity.
