Eastern Samar town hit by 4th flood

TACLOBAN CITY — Even before the land dried up, Jipapad town in Eastern Samar was again submerged in floodwaters, with 12 of its 13 barangays affected by incessant rain brought by tropical storm “Ada.”

Vicky Abestros, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said eight barangays outside the town proper and all low-lying areas were flooded, forcing families to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

“This is the fourth time that our town got flooded this year alone,” Abestros said.

On Friday evening, the search and rescue team conducted an operation in Barangay 1, town proper, and saved two families who had difficulty wading through floodwaters to evacuate. 

Those rescued included an elderly person, two children, a lactating mother, and a 59-year-old woman.

Damage to infrastructure was already visible, including a cracked concrete road near the town center and a major landslide along the highway leading to the town.

“The town of Jipapad is presently isolated due to flood and landslide,” Jipapad Mayor Benjamin Ver told the DAILY TRIBUNE. “We are requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to evaluate the damage before the highway totally collapses.”

On Saturday morning, the DPWH 8 Eastern Samar District Engineering Office declared the Arteche–Jipapad–Las Navas–Rawis Road not passable on both lanes due to a road slip affecting around 497.25 square meters. 

The agency said personnel are monitoring the affected area, with crews on standby.

Jipapad, the farthest municipality of Eastern Samar, is prone to flooding due to a catch basin that receives water from the upstream sections of Oras River, Catubig River, and several streams.

Residents have repeatedly appealed for the dredging of the heavily silted Oras River to allow water to flow freely to the Pacific.

In the first week of January, flooding caused by the shear line inundated 113 hectares of newly planted rice, the Eastern Samar Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office reported.