Cagayan residents recall how they escaped Ulysses floods

Cagayan residents had to think fast as floodwaters brought by Typhoon Ulysses quickly engulfed their homes, forcing them to move up to their roofs for safety.

According to Jessica Soho’s “24 Oras” report, some residents made holes through their ceilings to escape the rising flood.

The residents added that they were unaware that the Magat Dam was going to release water.

“‘Yung binuksan, bigla na [lang]. Hindi kami sinabihan. Hindi kami nakapaghanda nang husto,” said a resident said of Amulung.

Those living at the center of Tuguegarao also said they did not expect the flood to rise as quickly as it did, even as authorities insisted that they informed the residents about the threat.

Now that floods have subsided, residents are concerned about the lack of food and clean drinking water.

“Lubog na ‘yung mga kakainin namin na palay. Wala na kaming makain, damit, kalabaw. Wala na kaming mapapakain sa mga alaga naming hayop,” a woman said.

Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu dismissed speculation that mining activities caused flooding in Cagayan.

“These are just speculations. The volume of water was over the capability of the outlets,” he said.

“This is only the outlet of all the water that comes from Quirino down to Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya. Topography-wise, this is a flood-prone area,” Cimatu added. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News