As always, Tagbilaran City recently experienced widespread flooding after hours of heavy rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems, inundating major streets and low-lying areas with no reported casualties. (Contributed photo)
Heavy rainfall on Nov. 19, 2025 inundated several major streets in Tagbilaran City, with officials citing clogged drainage systems filled with trash as the primary cause of the flooding.
City Mayor Jane Yap issued a public apology to motorists who were stranded, delayed, and inconvenienced by the sudden flooding.
She noted that no excuses could justify the situation and pledged that immediate action would be taken.
“We have no excuse. This needs to be addressed right away,” Yap said.
The City Engineering Office, headed by Engineer Teody Estoque, conducted a comprehensive inspection throughout the city to examine all critical drainage points.
The examination came despite a major drainage cleanup that had been conducted just two weeks before the flooding incident.
Yap said that while many drainage lines lacked proper water flow capacity, investigations were ongoing to determine why water was unable to drain in certain areas despite the recent cleanup efforts.
Among the hardest-hit areas were Lamdagan Street, Tamblot Street, the Wisdom School vicinity, J. Borja corner CPG Avenue, B-inting, Calceta, and sections of Ubujan near a Petron station.
Lamdagan and Tamblot streets were temporarily closed to traffic, while alternate routes through Wisdom School, J. Borja, CPG Avenue, B-inting, Calceta, and Ubujan remained passable.
Yap appealed to residents not to fear or feel embarrassed about reporting flooded areas to city officials.
She said the city needed specific information about affected locations to prioritize repairs and determine if debris was blocking drainage systems in those neighborhoods.
For 2026, the city government has already planned comprehensive drainage improvement projects based on a newly developed 2025 Drainage Masterplan.
However, city funds will currently be used to repair roads and drainage systems after flood control funds designated for national roads are exhausted.
The mayor called on residents to report specific locations where flooding occurred so the engineering team could prioritize repairs in those areas.
Provincial Health Officer Fruserma Mary Uy issued a warning to residents exposed to floodwaters, urging them to consult a doctor immediately to prevent leptospirosis infection.
She explained that leptospirosis is commonly transmitted through rat urine and feces and other animal waste, and contaminated floodwater, especially when dirty, can carry the disease.
Uy warned that exposure to floodwaters could transmit the disease, particularly if a person has cuts, wounds, or any open skin sores, or if contaminated water enters through the eyes, nose, or mouth.
“Leptospirosis is dangerous and can be fatal if not treated promptly,” Uy said, stressing that prevention is better than cure.
The PHO urged those exposed to floodwaters who experience symptoms such as fever, body aches, and other unusual illnesses to seek immediate medical attention.
While antibiotics are effective against leptospirosis if administered early, delayed treatment can damage internal organs and result in serious complications or death.