Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Some 140 families or 400 individuals were forced to evacuate in North Fairview, Quezon City late Monday due to rising floodwaters triggered by the overflowing La Mesa Dam and heavy rains driven by the southwest monsoon.</p><p> Barangay data showed that the forced evacuation at Sitio Uno accounted for the majority of the displaced population, involving 116 families or 333 individuals. Meanwhile, 25 families or 68 individuals from Astor Street were placed under preemptive evacuation.</p><p>According to Barangay North Fairview Kagawad Jayve Marigondon, Sitio Uno is particularly vulnerable during severe weather conditions due to its low elevation.</p><p>&quot;Unang-una po ang Barangay North Fairview, particularly itong Sitio Uno area natin, isa ito sa unang-unang lugar na apektado ng pagbaha once na umapaw o nag-spill ang La Mesa Dam ng 80.15 meters,&quot; Marigondon said.</p><p>&quot;So nag-preemptive evacuation po tayo simula pa kaninang tanghali pero marami ang hindi pa lumilikas. Pero nung nag-overflow na ito na umabot na ng 80.15 meters hanggang ngayon, 80.27 meters, tuloy-tuloy yung preemptive hanggang force evacuation natin sa lugar nito,&quot; he added.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2195675298001611%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Marigondon noted that the low-lying nature of the area makes flooding a recurring issue whenever the dam spills, prompting immediate action from local authorities.</div><p>&quot;Ang lugar po namin dito sa Barangay North Fairview, particularly itong Sitio Uno area, ito yung pinakamababang lugar na kapag ka nag-overflow po ang La Mesa Dam, nagiging normal ang pagbaha dito. Pero pagka ganito po na may enhanced Habagat, lalo kapag meron mga malalakas na bagyo, kapag nag-overflow itong La Mesa Dam, automatically po sa instruction na rin ng ating local government, QCDRRMO, na nagpapatupad po tayo ng pre-emptive evacuation hanggang sa forced evacuation,&quot; he said.</p><p>Around 80 houses were directly affected by the rising waters, though many residents opted to move early before floodwaters reached their doorsteps.</p><p>Marigondon pointed out a common challenge officials face during disasters.</p><p>&quot;Actually talagang nakasanayan na nating mga Pilipino yan hanggat hindi tayo lulubog sa baha, pero sa amin naman paulit-ulit, hindi tayo nagkukulang ang ating paalala sa lahat na importante pa rin yung safety natin na hindi tayo matrap sa mga pagka talagang nag-overflow yung La Mesa Dam,&quot; Marigondon said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1591343522498706%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>For 35-year-old Roselyn Saro-ay, who had only been staying in Barangay North Fairview for three days, the experience was terrifying. She had to be carried by rescuers as they waded through the flood.</div><p>&quot;Ano, takot na takot ako, baka malunod ako kasi maliit ako eh. Kasi yung tubig umapaw dito sa mga rescuer, kasi ako mababa lang, baka malunod ako sa ano, takot ako. Kaya nagano lang ako kuya at ano lang ako magpano lang ako buhat kasi takot ako baka ano ako sa tubig kasi yung tubig umapaw na,&quot; Saro-ay recalled.</p><p>She recounted how fast the water rushed into their living space: “Oo, yung sa first floor namin, sa accommodation. Yun lang po, kaya ako, nagpatulong lang po ako sa mga rescuers na mabuhat nila. Kasi mababa ako, maliit ako. Yung mga kasama ko, mas maano pa sila sa akin, matangkad.&quot;</p><p>Other residents chose to leave early to protect their young family members. Emma Samson, 49, evacuated around 4:30 p.m., bringing her two children and her 10-day-old grandchild.</p><p>&quot;Ano kasi, pumasok na yung tubig po sa bahay po namin kaya baka matrap kami. Habang maaga pa, inilikas ko na po yung ito pong apo ko para masave kami,&quot; Samson said.</p><p>“Sobrang hirap po sa pagbubuhat-buhat ng mga gamit, ganun, akyat-baba, akyat-baba para hindi lang po mabasa. Sanay na po kami kasi lagi naman po kaming ganto. Tuwing bumabagyo po, bumabaha. Kunting ulan lang po kasi bumabaha na doon sa amin,” she said.</p><p>For 39-year-old resident Dayang Lumio, who evacuated with her four children aged 18, 10, 9, and 6, memories of previous disasters forced her to act quickly.</p><p>&quot;Ayaw po namin maranasan yung nangyari sa amin last year po. Lampas tao po yung baha. Kaya linikas na lang po namin yung anak namin. Mga bata po, inuna po namin mga bata sa mga gamit po, kailangan po yung mga importante,&quot; Lumio said. &quot;Sanay na po. Kasi sa ilang taon po ako dito sa Sitio Uno, parang nasanay na rin po ako eh.&quot;</p><p>Barangay officials confirmed that rescue operations have officially wrapped up, keeping the current figures as the final official count for the evacuation center.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RED CROSS RESCUE</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphredcross%2Fposts%2Fpfbid04gLfrjR77pvBhnooHPpXh32KrtN72pUw58C65mKdRmtvcrnJjYXhTq7VnveKj3fEl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="819" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) also deployed a water rescue team to Barangay North Fairview to save residents trapped by waist- to chest-deep floodwaters caused by relentless monsoon rains.</p><p>An eight-member emergency response unit from the PRC Quezon City Chapter navigated the submerged streets of Sitio Kumunoy to evacuate stranded residents, prioritizing the elderly, children, and vulnerable individuals.</p><p>Rescued residents were transported to a designated First Aid Station established at the North Fairview National High School, where evacuees from surrounding areas affected by the overflowing La Mesa Dam are being sheltered.</p><p>The PRC urged those in need of immediate assistance or medical support to reach the Red Cross Operations Center through its hotline at 143 or (02) 8790-2300.</p><p>For more weather updates, visit the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/calamity-hub">ABS-CBN Calamity Hub</a>.</p><div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Some 141 families or 400 individuals were forced to evacuate in North Fairview, Quezon City late Monday due to rising floodwaters triggered by the overflowing La Mesa Dam and heavy rains driven by the southwest monsoon.</p>

Some 141 families or 400 individuals were forced to evacuate in North Fairview, Quezon City late Monday due to rising floodwaters triggered by the overflowing La Mesa Dam and heavy rains driven by the southwest monsoon.

La Mesa Dam spill forces evacuation of over 400 residents in North Fairview

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La Mesa Dam spill forces evacuation of over 400 residents in North Fairview

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2026 07:25 AM PHT

Read More:

water rescue

Barangay North Fairview

La Mesa Dam

habagat

Quezon City

Philippine Red Cross

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