Taken by Storm Naguenian “
The
Bianca Sergio
What we have witnessed [was] terrifying. We all have questions in our minds, ‘’How did this happen?’ [...] We were just crying for help, praying
Responsible News for Nation-Building The Official English Publication of Naga City Science High School Region V Bicol July 2024 - April 2025 Volume 5, Issue no.1
- Resident of Camella lessandra
Water shortages strain floodaffected Nagueños Immanuel Monte
R
esidents of Naga City, still reeling from Tropical Storm Kristine’s devastating floods and landslides, now confront water shortages in some areas, turning daily survival into a crisis affecting health, cleanup efforts, and basic living. According to the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD), the impact has damaged critical transmission lines from Kalinisan and Asupre springs, cutting off the water flow in several barangays under the MNWD. Elmer Polintan, a resident of Barangay San Felipe, mentioned the harsh realities as his family divides their water supply among drinking, cooking, and minimal hygiene. “We are [also] worried that the little water that we are getting is polluted with flood waste and possibly harboring diseases,” Polintan worried, hoping to receive portable water that MNWD has been distributing. Moreover, residents also expressed the challenge of cleaning the mud and debris left by floods due to the absence of proper water supply, further delaying their recovery and restoration process. “First week ng bagyo, matagal at minsan walang tubig ang dumadaloy sa ibang mga gripo kaya nadelay [nang] sobra ang paglinis namin. Kinakailangan namin kumuha ng tubig sa ibang mga bahay [...] para lang makapaglinis,” Pearlie Ubaldo, also from San Felipe, described. Choppy Dela Cruz, MNWD’s Public Information Officer, assured the public that they are prioritizing water safety by disinfecting all pumping stations and wells immediately after a typhoon, emphasizing that their finished water supply is regularly tested for bacteria in their in-house laboratory to ensure its safety before being distributed to the system. Although Kalinisan’s supply line is back in operation, Asupre remains out of service, with repair crews working around the clock to restore it as these springs are crucial for drinking and basic hygiene as MNWD noted its risk. “[...] During the repair of Kalinisan and Asupre transmission lines [...] yung mga replacement pipes sa taas ng bundok at [may] possible landslide na pwedeng mangyari especially katatapos lang noon ng bagyo,” Dela Cruz noted. However, despite these efforts, community members are demanding for stronger response measures and improved water delivery in critical areas. “I would like to see that our community should raise this concern on repeat until NAWASA takes action,” Rosa Adorna of Del Rosario asserted.
theNAGUENIAN
READ ME The Naguenian goes online! Be sure to scan this QR Code to be updated with our latest news https://medium.com/naguenian
RAFT FOR REFUGE. A child improvises a float after being stranded in the severe flood brought by Tropical Storm ‘Kristine’ at Barangay Triangulo, Naga City, on October 25, 2024. (Reese Monasterio / Contributed Photo from Zalrian Z. Sayat)
Nagueños reels from TS Kristine, dwells on flood control
D
evastating thousands of Nagueños, Severe Tropical Storm ‘Kristine’ left the City of Naga in panic as unforeseen heavy flooding brought the city in disarray for days in October 2024. Within the span of 24 hours, Naga City alone experienced 2.5 months’ worth of rainfall, running up to a total of 700mm. According to Mayor Nelson Legacion, 30% of the city was submerged in floodwaters and affected 70% of the population of Naga. Approximately 2.6 million individuals across Bicol have been displaced by Tropical Storm Kristine, suffering 24,500 structural damages. “Many parts of our beloved city and neighboring towns remain submerged in floodwaters, and we are still facilitating relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts,” he stated in an advisory. Furthermore, Legacion added that the high tide and water inflow from the nearby areas belonging to the Bicol River Basin, such as Albay and Rinconada, contributed heavily to the rise of flood months water. worth of rainfall
2.5
in Naga City in the span of 24 hours
HEARTBREAK TO FAMILIES According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the death count in Bicol stands at 45 as of October 29, 2024. One of which is Maya, the 8-year-old daughter of Jun Bonggao, a resident within Camella Homes Naga City, who tragically lost her life in the raging flood brought by Kristine. “[...] realizing that I lost both my son and daughter in the middle of the raging flood caused by a collapsed perimeter fence, built to only establish property boundaries of Camella Naga City, I was faced and torn between holding on to that small tree to save my life or try looking for my kids with almost zero chance—hardest decision of my life yet,” Bonggao said in his Facebook post on November 5, 2024, expressing his distress during the storm and highlighting his disappointment towards the construction of the subdivision. Meanwhile, Crisanta Guriba, a resident within Camella Lessandra, expressed dismay as she recalled the night of the tragedy that shook her family, thinking they were safe until they were not. “What we have witnessed [was] terrifying. We all have questions in our minds, ‘’How did this happen?’ [...] We were just crying for help, praying,” she recalled.
continue on PAGE 3
Nagueños, Bicolanos flay SWMO, claim city’s unpreparedness GraceFaith Calomos
R
esidents in and out of Naga City expressed disappointment and enragement as they described the inconvenience of the prolonged clearing operation of the Naga City Solid Waste Management (SWMO) for the recent disastrous Typhoon Kristine. “Nagpalaog na sa mga estudyante, kaso, ugwa pa nin mga parte kan Naga na mabataon, ta’s ma-traffic pa ta ugwa pang garbage piles sa gilid kan agihan,” a student from Naga College Foundation stated as she expressed a need for reconsideration from the Naga City Government. Employees who are traveling from outside of Naga also blamed the SWMO for their inconsistency in terms of garbage collection which they think is the reason why there are still uncleared areas around Naga City. According to Luis Edcel Oclarit, a collector from Oragon Lending Corporation, it is also necessary for the
offices assigned for the aftertyphoon restoration to prepare themselves with the needed equipment and manpower for a smooth operation so that no road disturbances would be created. However, he also emphasized that the citydwellers are the second culprit of the delayed action and that we should be cautious and upright in how we throw and segregate waste. “Tayo rin kasi, we also should segregate, kasi mahihirapan din sila n’yan at tatagal talaga ‘yan [operation], maawa naman ang mga tao,” he stressed.
RESTORING STREETS. Dedicated garbage collectors from the Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) work to clean the streets of Barangay Dayangdang on November 9, 2024, following the devastation caused by the recent Tropical Storm ‘Kristine’. (Photo by Ysabelle De Lima)
continue on PAGE 3
OPINION 4 Under Legality and Morality
FEATURE 8
SCI-TECH 14
Naga’s Recent Festivities
A Crimson Omen
Buena & Casiwen
Terrence Joshua Herras
SPORTS 17 Salpakan: Duel of wits and Warfare Constantine Loyogoy