IN TALISAY CITY Flood victims told: Don't rebuild in danger zones

Residents living along the Mananga River in Talisay City whose houses were washed out by flash floods at the height of Typhoon Tino have been strongly warned against rebuilding their homes in the danger zone.

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Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Alvin Santillana issued the warning following the destructive floods that hit the city early this week.

Santillana said around 5,000 families across 10 barangays along the Mananga River were affected by the floods.

"Sooner or later, this will happen again," Santillana cautioned, noting the possibility of another massive flooding. "Typhoons are getting stronger and more frequent. Our main threat now is not the wind but the floods."

He appealed to families whose homes were destroyed by the flash floods to reconsider rebuilding in high-risk zones, stressing that many of the damaged or washed-out houses were built directly on the riverbed despite repeated government warnings.

"They often say, 'Wala man tubig diha,' but rivers are naturally meant to carry water. When heavy rains come, the river will always reclaim its course. Nature cannot be modified or controlled," he said.

Santillana said the flooding during Typhoon Tino showed how powerful nature can be. According to weather experts, the city experienced 100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall per hour equivalent to two months' worth of rain in just three hours.