'Zero casualty'

In Carcar City, the spillway in Barangay Poblacion I overflowed at around 2 a.m., sending floodwaters rushing toward Poblacion II and III. Families had already been evacuated hours earlier before the flooding peaked.

- 

A total of 101 families or 439 individuals from Barangays Poblacion I, II, III and Ocaña were brought to the city gym, said Carcar DRRMO head Joyce Mae Powao. She noted that rains began as a drizzle at 8 p.m. Monday, intensified past 11 p.m., and eventually caused the spillway’s breach.

Floodwaters reached the bridge in Poblacion III and rendered several roads impassable, though these subsided by 8 a.m. Major establishments, including shops and gasoline stations, also reported flooding.

Despite the incident, Carcar pushed through with its celebration of the Feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria. The provincial government delivered immediate assistance, including 1,000 hot meals, 1,000 food packs, 1,000 bottles of water, and 210 boxes of prophylaxis distributed earlier.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro visited Carcar and praised Mayor Mario Patricio Barcenas for enforcing forced evacuations, saying the LGU’s proactive approach “made a difference” in preventing casualties.

“Mao nay deperensiya kung ang mayor naa gud, so proactive jud. Forced evacuation dayon, so mao na—na-mitigate nato ang casualty and damages,” Baricuatro said.