While many of us are busy preparing food and other traditional preparations to joyfully welcome the new year 2021, some Palawenos in Roxas town were forced to leave their homes after floodwaters reached their houses, few hours before the New Year.
The village rampaged by floods is Barangay Antonino, an upland Barangay in Roxas, Palawan, located more than 40 kilometers from the town proper.
Elder local residents claimed that the last time they have experienced such severe floodings in their place was sometime in 1999, or 20 years ago.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has issued Red Rainfall Alert in the entire Palawan as early as morning of December 31, 2020.
The incessant heavy rains the whole days caused the rivers in Barangay Antonino to swell causing heavy floods in the riverside communities by 6pm.
Amy Caabay-Revillas, 37, married and a mother of four, said that she brought her family to safer grounds nearby since their house is submerged by floodwaters.
“Isarado ko ren lamang ang balay, bahala ren lamang,” Revillas cried while reached through her mobile phone, few minutes after she left their house, and wading the hip-deep floodwaters at around 7pm.
She also pulled her cattle (livestock) in the nearby cashew plantation for safety.
Her mother, Zosima Reduble-Caabay, while her house was not reached by floods, her ricefield was not spared by the floodwaters’ rampage.
Elnarph Gange, 13, a high school student of Tumarbong National High School and a resident of Barangay Antonino said that his family now evacuated in safer place in Purok Looban, part of Barangay Antonino.
“Abot na ang baryo (Antonino). Wala na ang Antonino Sir, lubog na ang bahay namin,” he said.
Majority of the households in their Barangay too, have already evacuated as of this presstime.
“Madilim dito ngayon sobra, bukas na ako maka-picture,” he said, when asked to send photos about the floodings.
Damages caused by the flood is not yet known as of the presstime.