A significant number of cockroaches surfaced on a rainy afternoon on the sidewalk along one of major streets in the central business district in Naga City, Camarines Sur, prompting the city's health office to call for cleanliness. 

A video uploaded online by Arjay Recaña showed roaches surfacing on the sidewalk along Ninoy and Cory Avenue.

The street is located in the city’s central business district.

Recaña was heading for work that afternoon when he saw the roaches emerging. It was raining at that time.

“Papunta na po ako sa work. Tapos maulan dito sa Naga. Tapos diyan po sa may harap ng CBD, nagbabaha na. Tapos lumalabas na po ‘yung ipis na parang ‘ipis apocalypse’ na po ‘yung nangyayari,” Recaña said.

Even before it rained, food vendor Irene Lazaro said she already saw cockroaches entering their store.

“Dito, panay ang lipad lipad. Siguro mga tatlo. Kasi may kumakain, tinuro sakin. Ang ginawa ko, pinatay ko kasi hindi naman siya yung masyadong malaki. Lalo ako, takot din ako sa ipis. Basta wag lang siya kapag may taong kumakain,” she said.

Abel Victor Tintugan, Chief Sanitation Inspector at the Naga City Health Office, cited three possible reasons for the presence of the cockroaches - lack of sanitation in the area, the downpour, and someone spraying a non-knock-out chemical that forced the roaches to surface.

The good news is that the cockroaches have not resurfaced, at least, as of this writing. 

He called on establishments in the area to ensure sanitation and if there are cockroaches around, to use the right pest control methods.

He said the establishments can also reach out to the city health office if they need help.

“Pakiusap lang po namin, sa mga establishment na yan, dapat obligasyon po natin na i-check ang ating pasilidad, kung ano ba ang status. Kung medyo may cockroach, mag-apply ng tamang pest control. Kami naman, kung may request na kinakaya pa namin dito, pwede parin ninyong ipadala ang request ninyo at tatrabahuhin namin,” Tintugan said.