Floodwaters inundated 23 out od 180 barangays across Iloilo City on October 7 as localized thunderstorms unleashed heavy rainfall, according to a 6 p.m. update from the city’s Operations Center. The CDRRMO-BDRRMS division detailed flooding depths from 2 to 12 inches in affected areas.
In the City Proper alone, 11 barangays were submerged, including Tanza Timawa II (5-12 in), San Jose alleys (3-8 in), and front of Lar’s in Tanza Timawa I (6-8 in).
Elsewhere, other districts recorded significant flooding: Mandurriao (2 barangays), La Paz (1 barangay), Molo (2 barangays), Jaro (2 barangays), Arevalo (1 barangay), and Lapuz (4 barangays).
Flooding has become a recurring challenge in Iloilo City, particularly during the rainy season.
In recent years, heavy rains have regularly overwhelmed drainage systems and low-lying barangays, prompting calls for improved flood mitigation infrastructure and better urban planning to cope with storm surges and intense downpours.
Many barangays in the city are situated in flood-prone zones or along watercourses, making them vulnerable to sudden inundation during thunderstorms. Local officials and residents have repeatedly flagged poor drainage, clogged waterways, and land subsidence as contributing factors that exacerbate flooding during heavy rainfall.