Rains stop, sun peeks, but floods continue to rise in Cagayan

For the first time in several days, residents in Cagayan Valley saw the sun peeking through the clouds on Friday, and enjoyed a respite from the heavy rains that continuously battered that area of northern Luzon throughout the week. But despite the rainless day, floodwater in some low-lying communities of Cagayan province continued to rise amid swelling rivers fed by rain-induced runoff from the slopes of the nearby mountains. "Umaaraw na sa probinsya namin. Wala nang ulan pero tumataas pa rin ang tubig [The sun is already shining in our province. There’s no more rain but the water continues to rise]," Cagayan governor Alvaro Antonio told radio dzBB in an interview. The governor said the continuing rise of water levels in their province is caused by water coming from the Sierra Madre mountains and from tributaries of the Cagayan River.

Photo shows the Cagayan River Basin with its five major tributaries. Two rivers feed water from the Sierra Madre, in the east. Three rivers feed water from the Cordillera in the west. The Cagayan Valley receives it all. The river flows from south to north, exiting in the Babuyan Channel near Aparri.

Alvaro said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has already warned that the rising water levels will continue for the next 12 hours. He said the floods, which have already driven thousands of residents into evacuation centers, are by far the worst in Cagayan's history. The government said seven people so far have been killed due to the floods and landslides. Alvaro however made assurances that authorities are not having any problems with distributing relief goods to the affected families. "Before tumaas ang tubig, nagpre-position na kami ng relief goods sa evacuation centers kaya smooth naman ang pag-deliver," he said. (Before the water rose, we had pre-positioned relief goods in the evacuation centers, so the deliveries have been smooth.) He said around 20 rubber boats are being used in the relief effort. With schools serving as evacuation centers where thousands of evacuees remain housed, Alvaro said he has likewise ordered on Thursday the suspension of classes in schools and work in government offices on Friday. The provincial government declared a state of calamity in the province on October 20 after supertyphoon Juan lashed through northern Luzon. Alvaro said the declaration could be extended due to the continued flooding in Cagayan. In neighboring Isabela — the province worst-hit by "Juan" — the rains have also stopped but floods still continue to submerge a number of towns in the province’s central and northern parts. "Medyo maaraw na po. Lumalabas na ang araw matapos ang limang araw na patuloy na pag-ulan," said Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III in a separate radio dzBB interview. He said the provincial government so far has seven rubber boats, but assured that the city government of Santiago has already offered their rubber boats to help in rescue and relief operations. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 13 roads and 16 bridges in five provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora and Apayao remained impassable due to flooding, landslides, and washed-out approaches. According to the latest data from PAGASA, the Magat Dam in the Isabela-Ifugao border continues to release water through its two gates—each with a three-meter opening—because the reservoir water level continues to be above the normal level. The water released by the Magat dam eventually drains into the Cagayan River and adds to the flooding further downstream in Isabela and Cagayan.— Mark Merueñas/LBG/JV, GMANews.TV