BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-Caraga Region 13) warned Monday residents in flood-prone areas, especially those living along creeks and river banks, to take precautionary measures amid new threats of flooding as a result of the continuing rainfall which began last Saturday.

Since Saturday night, the RDRRMC-Caraga Region 13 has intensified preparations for the effects of Low Pressure Area (LPA). The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the LPA was estimated in the vicinity of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur based on radar, satellite and surface data.

As per report submitted to the national DRRMC, the region’s disaster risk reduction and management council alerted local government units and concerned communities to continuously monitor changes in the water level of river channels.

The Caraga region, especially in the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte, has already been placed under Alert Level 1 since Saturday.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Tubod town, Surigao del Norte has reported that 12 families or 39 persons in Sitio Hubasan, Tubod town, have been evacuated due to rising floodwaters brought about by the continuous rainfall.

The water level of the giant Agusan river in Butuan City already reached the critical level of 2.20 meters high as of Monday morning. The regular level of Agusan river is 1.8 meters high.

Because of this, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. alerted all residents living along the river banks for possible evacuation if the water level continues to rise.

Caraga RDRRMC also reported that a pre-emptive evacuation is on standby mode in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Butuan City. Once the critical level is reached, signaling the start of evacuation, the rescue teams from the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade and 401st Infantry Brigade will move to carry out the plan.

The Philippine Army is helping communities in the region to monitor the weather condition which has shifted from light to moderate rains since early Saturday morning.

“All disaster councils in the region are already on standby alert,” said Region XIII OCD Regional Director Blanche T. Gobenciong.

In a related development, Hinatuan DRRM officer Josephine Laciperos said residents along coastal barangays have been alerted since Saturday night.

Hinatuan Mayor Candelario Viola already disseminated an advisory to residents to take precautionary measures and not to venture to the sea due to the LPA in the vicinity of Hinatuan town.

In a related development, people living near the mountain slopes and in low-lying areas of Northern Mindanao have been alerted anew of possible flashfloods and landslides.

This, after the PAGASA issued General Flood Advisory No. 1 for Region 10, issued at 5 p.m. last Saturday, saying the LPA affecting Mindanao will bring light to moderate rains to the island in the next 24 hours.

Furthermore, the concerned local disaster risk and reduction and management councils are advised to be alert for possible flashfloods.

The waterways likely affected by this weather condition are the rivers and streams in Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin Island and Bukidnon.