Floodwaters continue to trouble homes in the remote Sitio Riverside of Barangay Sonquil, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan with many areas still submerged weeks after Severe Tropical Storm #KristinePH.

The slow drainage has left residents waiting for the waters to recede.

“Matagal, 15 days, walang labasan ang tubig, hindi nilagyan,” Marciano Ballesteros, a resident, said.

The local barangay council is aware of the issue.

“Dagdagan po namin ‘yung imburnal, mga apat para madaling lumabas yung tubig,” Manuel Suarez Jr., barangay councilman and chair of the Committee on Disaster Response, said.

At the height of the storm, floods rose waist-high, displacing 178 families, including the Fernandez family living along the Sinucalan-Marusay River.

“Pero ako takot ako sa baha. Pumunta ako sa anak ko, mataas doon [ang lupa],” Merly Fernandez said.

As flooding remains a regular threat, residents have boats and rafts prepared.

A flood monitoring system is also in place, with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) keeping watch as another storm, Typhoon #LeonPH, approaches.

“Ingat lang po kayo kahit wala pa tayong signal. Kung malakas ang ulan, baka dumating ang tubig sa atin,” Raymondo Santos, Sta. Barbara’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Officer, said.