Heavy rains flood Kalibo streets

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Heavy rains brought floods to the major streets of Kalibo town. Low-lying areas went underwater, however, these areas remained passable to vehicles.

As of late afternoon, some areas including Desposorio Maagma Street from Mabini to Crossing Rotanda, Osmena Avenue fronting a bus terminal, Quezon Avenue from Crossing Rotanda to the municipal cemetery and portions of Toting Reyes Street near Kalibo Public Market were flooded due to heavy and prolong rains.

Motorists blamed the clogged drainage system and canals for the flooding. They hope to see the new administration of Kalibo mayor William Lachica to implement and prioritize projects for flood mitigation.

In a weather bulletin released at 5 p.m. today, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowere due to tail end of cold front affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas.

No tropical cyclone is threatening or affecting the area of responsibility, the weather bureau agency said.
Some villages or subdivisions in Barangay New Buswang, Andagao and Estancia were affected by gutter-deep floods. Banks were closed for business and work in some government offices were also suspended on Thursday afternoon.

Due to heavy downpour on Wednesday, the local government of Kalibo activated the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council and monitored the swelling of Aklan River. Spawned by heavy rains in the hinterlands of the towns of Libacao and Madalag, residents along the Aklan River are advised to be on alert for cases of flash-flooding.

Pag-asa said the weather phenomenon La Nina characterized by heavy rains are likely to cause floods and landslides in hazard prone areas.