Communities in the Cebu provinces of Asturias and Balamban are facing a monumental recovery effort, urgently requesting financial assistance to reconstruct their lives after Typhoon Tino triggered catastrophic flooding that destroyed homes and claimed lives.
Survivors' Harrowing Tales of Survival
In Barangay Nangka, resident Rosabella Gok-ong described a terrifying ordeal where she and her children were trapped as floodwaters nearly submerged the second floor of the Nangka Elementary School evacuation center. Her husband and one child had stayed behind at their home in Sitio Proper, a residence she had lived in since 1995, only for it to be completely washed away by the raging waters. She expressed profound gratitude for her family's survival, even as they face the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch.
Mario Tuñeda, a survivor from Barangay Owak in Asturias, was on night watch duty at the local elementary school when the waters rose with shocking speed. He and his child were forced to flee to the school's rooftop, where they remained for three hours as their once-peaceful community transformed into a raging river. Tuñeda now joins countless others in relying on government relief for food and water, but emphasizes that cash aid is their most critical need to purchase basic building materials and escape exposure to the elements.
Official Toll and Cause of the Disaster
According to official reports, the devastation was primarily caused by intense rainfall and the overflow of the Combado River, which borders the two municipalities.
In Balamban, Genito Candia, officer-in-charge of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), reported a grim tally of 11 confirmed deaths and 14 individuals still missing. He stated that land-based search and retrieval operations have been halted, with efforts now concentrated along coastal areas. Saturday, November 8, was declared the final day for retrieval operations, after which the missing will be considered deceased. Candia added that several barangays remain isolated due to heavy debris, severely hampering the delivery of relief goods.
In Asturias, MDRRMO head Mark Supatan confirmed the flooding originated from the same source, the Combado River. The municipality recorded two deaths and four missing persons. While search and rescue operations on land are complete, efforts continue along the coastline.
Appeals for Government Support and Clearing Operations
Local officials are echoing the pleas of their constituents for immediate and substantial support. Nangka Barangay Captain Ringo Rallos confirmed this was an unprecedented disaster for their area, one that even caused partial damage to their barangay hall. With roads still blocked by debris, he is urgently appealing for government-provided equipment, specifically a backhoe, to accelerate clearing operations and facilitate the delivery of aid.
The disaster's impact extended beyond homes to vital community institutions. Grade 6 adviser Liezel Mariae Loreto suffered a significant personal and professional loss when her classroom was flooded. She lost a three-year compilation of teaching portfolios essential for her upcoming promotion, along with important student records and prepared Christmas gifts for her pupils.
As the local governments of Balamban and Asturias focus on recovery and clearing, the unified cry from displaced families remains clear: financial assistance for rebuilding is their most urgent and pressing need to overcome this calamity.
