ZAMBOANGA CITY — Newly-installed Mayor Khymer Olaso has wasted no time in taking decisive steps to address the worsening flood situation gripping the city, following a series of flashfloods that displaced over 2,300 individuals across seven barangays on Saturday, July 5.
Mayor Olaso met with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 9 (DPWH-9) on Friday, July 4, to fast-track short- and long-term solutions to the city’s perennial flooding problem. Held at the DPWH-9 regional office in Tumaga, the coordination meeting aimed to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and jumpstart critical flood mitigation measures in key urban areas, including the central district.
Among the immediate solutions discussed was the installation of portable pumping stations while awaiting the completion of permanent flood control systems. DPWH-9 officials updated the mayor on ongoing and proposed projects such as drainage construction and maintenance, particularly along high-risk zones like the Tumaga River Basin and the Don Alfaro-Veterans Avenue drainage interconnection—currently 88.69% complete.
A major concern raised during the meeting was the persistent flooding along Gov. Camins Avenue. DPWH-9 Regional Director Engr. Cayamombao Dia attributed this to a missing segment in the lateral drainage system. Although the road is a national project, Mayor Olaso and the DPWH-9 agreed to allow the city to take over the construction of around 100 meters of reinforced concrete pipes to close the drainage gap and expedite the resolution.
Attending the meeting were key city officials including Executive Assistant IV and Secretary to the Mayor Celso Lobregat, City Administrator Fercival Ramos, City Engineer Christopher Navarro, City Planning and Development Coordinator Ma. Luz Agbayani, and DPWH-9 Assistant Regional Director Soray’yah Ibrahim, among others.
Just a day after the meeting, disaster struck.
Southwest Monsoon Triggers Flashfloods, Displaces Thousands
On Saturday afternoon, July 5, heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, intensified by Tropical Storm Danas, inundated low-lying and river-adjacent barangays, displacing 739 families or 2,374 individuals in seven barangays. These included Tumaga, Pasonanca, Tugbungan, Lunzuran, Boalan, Sta. Maria, and Guiwan.
Mayor Olaso responded with urgency, personally leading relief operations late into the evening. He visited evacuation centers, including the Tumaga Diversion Road, Pasonanca Barangay Hall, and other affected areas, to distribute food packs, water, hygiene kits, sleeping mats, and other necessities.
“Government resources have been fully mobilized. We are working non-stop to ensure our people are safe and supported,” Mayor Olaso said as he supervised operations with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), headed by Socorro Rojas.
According to the CSWDO, seven evacuation centers were activated, with Tumaga Elementary School housing the largest number—571 families or 1,713 individuals. As of midnight July 5, six centers remained active, while the Guiwan center was closed.
Partial data showed that 176 families with 755 individuals in Pasonanca had already received dinner packs, hygiene kits, and water. Assessment and profiling continue in Tumaga, Tugbungan, and other affected areas to determine the full extent of damage and displacement.
The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) reported that the Pasonanca diversionary weir had reached a critical water level of 74.92 meters, prompting continued advisories for residents in vulnerable areas to remain in evacuation centers.
Unified Action for a Recurring Threat
The back-to-back developments underscore the urgency of long-term solutions to Zamboanga City’s chronic flooding woes. The city’s leadership under Mayor Olaso is calling for tighter coordination between national and local agencies, faster project implementation, and proactive disaster response.
“This is not just a weather issue. It is a governance issue. We must act swiftly and together—engineering solutions, social assistance, and political will must all converge,” Olaso stressed.
With both infrastructure planning and immediate relief underway, the city hopes that the current administration’s proactive stance will finally turn the tide on years of flood-related hardship.