“Experience is the best teacher and the worst experiences teach the best lessons”- Unknown

This saying holds true among the residents of Barangay MabRiz after the community was swept by floods in 2008. The dreadful experiences they had during Typhoon Frank sparred them from Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Philippines that affected the Visayas.

MabRiz is one of the 50 barangays in Maasin, Iloilo. It is near the bank of the river. Waters from Tigum River passes Brgy. MabRiz.  This is why they were greatly affected when Typhoon Frank hit Iloilo.

Three years after Typhoon Frank, residents were given an opportunity to protect their village from flooding through Kalahi-CIDSS.

Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee chairperson Olivia Onday said Barangay Mabriz presented their need for a river wall protection during the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum in 2011.  It was prioritized for funding.

A P2.7 million grant was allocated for the construction of a 415 linear meter river wall protection.

Seeing the urgency of the structure in protecting their community, the community volunteers, residents and barangay officials pooled their efforts and started the construction on April 25, 2011.

The construction of the river wall ignited volunteerism and bayanihan in the community. Each household had their share. It came in form of food and services. Residents were also hired as laborers, to ensure a quality structure against flood.

The river wall project was completed in its target time. Not knowing that another strongest typhoon is coming.

Onday said the river wall protected them from Typhoon Yolanda when it struck Iloilo Province in 2013. Water from the Tigum River remained at bay with its gushing current.  There were no more casualties or damages to the community.

“Peg-Yolanda nahadlok man kami pero wara gid nag-apaw ang tubi. Sadto nga tini-on didto gid namon nakita ang pulos kang river wall (When Yolanda struck, we were scared but the water from the river did not overflow, that was when we truly saw the importance of the river wall),” Onday said.

There were no major obstacles during the implementation. There was sufficient budget for the materials needed and the whole community was proactive in the construction, she said.

 “Tanan gid nagdagyaw sa amon kausa kag nasadyahan gid kami sa mga pumuluyo. Wara gid kananda nagduwa-duwa na maka hatag maskin gamay para lang matigayon ang amon nga river wall (The whole community united to our cause and we were really glad with the residents. They did not hesitate to give even their smallest contribution to help us construct the river wall),” Onday said.

Some households would offer food to the volunteers, simple snacks to help them carry on with work. Others planted flowers or plants to help beautify the place.

The barangay allots P7, 000.00 yearly in their budget to maintain the river wall. They conduct monthly inspections to see it that the concrete wall has no cracks. Whenever they would see some, residents would take it to their initiative to fill them in with cement.

With the installation of this river wall, there was a noticeable difference in the community. There was no more fear for the residents. They are able to now able to sleep soundly at night knowing that they are protected.

EXPERIENCE TEACHES THEM

The outcry of the residents for a protection during heavy rains triggered the construction of the river wall protection project.

Heartrending memories on the adverse effects of the flood brought about by Typhoon Frank were etched in the hearts and minds of residents.

Yvette Tormon, whose house is near the bank of the river, recalled the emotional and physical challenges they had to endure during and after the typhoon.

 “Sang nag-igo ang Frank nabugtawan na lang namon sang mga alas sais kang aga kay tunog ang huni kang suba. Pagguwa namon taas na ang tubi. Dasig lang ang pagtaas kang tubi asta sa nakalab-ot na siya sa busong ko. Te sadto bag-o lang ko kabata, ang baby ko two months pa lang. Gahibi ko ka hadlok samtang ginahakwat ko siya para ka evacuate kami

(When Typhoon Frank hit us, we woke up at the sound of gushing water from the river. It was about 6:00 am in the morning. When we went outside, the water rose quickly. It reached my tummy. I had just given birth. She was only two months old at that time. I was crying for fear while we were evacuating),” she said.

Tigum River which separates the various barangays in Maasin overflew in the midst of the typhoon. It served as a catch basin for the water that came from the upland and with the heavy downpour, the water levels rose and the current was very strong.

It was a nightmare. Only the sound of the gushing water from the swelling river and the cries of the people were heard.

The typhoon left three people dead in MabRiz. The small nipa hut on the other side of the river directly across MabRiz was completely damaged. Farm animals, swine and other poultry birds were washed away.

Tormon saw how a father and his son struggled to survive the flood.  “Ga kapyot siya sa may puno sang kahoy tapos ang bata ya gna kaptan ya sa isa ya pa gid ka kamot. Sang na-utod ang sanga kang kahoy, naanod sila sang tubig. Darwa gid sanda kang bata ya napatay (His one hand was holding on a tree while his other hand was holding his child. When the branch of the tree was cut-off, they were swept away by waters. They both died).”

They were saddened on the death of their neighbors. Thus, residents feared whenever it rained and another flash flood would occur. No one dared to cross when the river is swelling.

The calamity had opened the eyes of barangay officials of Mabriz. It prompted them to come up with a plan- to protect their community from floods.

Barangay Kagawad Ariel Peter Libunao said they are saddened that they could not protect their community from the Natures wrath with the meager Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) they have. The people wanted to construct a river wall.

 “Bal-an namon nga kulang gid ang budget kang barangay. Gahiribi-on na sa amon ang mga tawo kay indi na gid nila gusto ma-agyan ang kasakit nga nabatyagan nila kang Frank (We knew that the barangay’s budget was not enough. The locals cried hard. They don’t want to experience the same pain they had in Typhoon Frank),” he said.

Natural calamities can happen any time of the day but we can always prepare ourselves so that we can avoid casualties. The river wall is the first line of defense from the forces of nature. It is the community’s protection. Preventing not only flash floods but also saving lives in the process.#