INDEED, there’s a calm before the storm. And many people would simply refuse to heed the logical warning.
Yesterday was like an ordinary day especially in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro where the biggest bulk of rain waters from upstream activity would normally go down to its sea waters in Macajalar bay.
Today was different.
With non-stop rain and roads becoming impassable making it impossible for transport vehicles to operate, the visibly-relaxed individuals in the community have started to be wary.
“Wala pa ni landfall ang bagyong Odette unya wala pa modagpak ang dakong tubig sa Bukidnon paingon sa atong suba,” warned Fr. Vic Arellano of the Philippine Independent Church.
As the Carmen river is swelling and the threat of high tide in the late afternoon is approaching brought by the intensifying typhoon Odette, Bonbon residents in Zone 9, Puntabon within the riverbanks across Barangay Macabalan have started evacuating to the three-story Bonbon Elementary School.
“Advise to bakwit na gyod kay gadako ang tubig sa dalan lisod na ang pag biyahe. Aduna nay gapanglutaw nga appliances sa low-lying areas. Dili kini ka kumpyansaan nga sitwasyon,” Bonbon Kagawad Lelet Baal-Molina told Gold Star Daily.
It was in the seaside Barangay of Bonbon where piles of dead bodies offshore were seen in the aftermath of the great Sendong on December 16, 2011.
“Hangtod karon dili malimtan nga panan-awon sa among baybay nga taud-taud gyod walay maligo human sa mga patay'ng lawas sa trahedya,” one resident recalled.
“Ang kuyaw karong gabii kon mag brownout na sabay sa makusog nga hangin ug ulan,” was the worry of Bonbon Tanod Egor del Puerto.
As the city streets were flooded and the other serious threats of power curtailment and a possible backlog of potable water services, the devastating wrath of typhoon Sendong that claimed thousands of lives 10 years ago today would remind Oro residents again to stay vigilant and not be complacent.
In Barangay Iponan where the condition of the Bulao river is also crucial for the disaster council’s monitoring, village chief Dondon Allorin had also readied the Bulao Elementary School among their alternative evacuation sites.
“Mangandam ug mag-amping kita mga ka barangay kay nidako na gyod ang tubig sa atong suba. Ato na usab gi-andam ang mga sakyanan nga magamit sa atong mga kaigsoonan in case of emergency,” Allorin said.
Bonbon jeepney driver Serio Dioquinto, who took effort in combing the coastal barangay's surroundings, however, called for residents not to panic and remain in composure.
“Sa akong obserbasyon sa dagat ug suba nga akong gilibot, medyo ubos ra ang tubig mora'g ugma pa kadlawon ang high tide ini. Pero dili lang gyod magkumpyansa kay basin adunay kausaban pag landfall sa bagyong Odette,” Dioquino said.
