River wall collapse in Navotas triggers evacuation of 16 families; waters reach neck-deep

• A river wall in Barangay San Jose, Navotas City collapsed during high tide on June 28, prompting the evacuation of at least 16 families
• Evacuees were taken to Navotas Elementary School 1 and the barangay hall, where they received food, essentials, and medicines like doxycycline
• Irish Cubillan said the wall had long needed repairs but was left untouched due to informal settlers using it as part of their homes
• Councilor Neil Cruz stated the city is preparing for sandbagging operations once the floodwaters fully recede

Flooding swept through parts of Barangay San Jose in Navotas City on Saturday, June 28, after a river wall gave way during high tide late in the morning.

The incident forced at least 16 families to leave their homes due to rising waters.

Irish Cubillan, Navotas Public Information Officer, reported that the affected residents were moved to two evacuation centers—Navotas Elementary School 1 and the barangay hall.

Food, essential supplies, and medical needs were immediately provided by the city government.

Among the medicines distributed was doxycycline, commonly used to prevent leptospirosis.

Cubillan also noted that the wall that collapsed was already in need of repairs.

“Itong pader po na ito matagal na itong dapat nai-repair. Kaya lang natigilan po tayo dahil mayroon pong anim na pamilya— mga informal settler families na ginagamit din ‘yung wall para sa kanilang bahay,” she explained in a phone interview with ABS-CBN News.

Of the six informal settler families once residing along the wall, two have been relocated to Naic, Cavite, while the remaining four await in-city resettlement.

Navotas District II Councilor Neil Cruz said the city will soon carry out sandbagging operations to prevent further water intrusion.

“Hinihintay lang namin bumaba nang bumaba ngayon. Nagpe-prepare na ‘yung city for sandbagging,” he stated.

The river wall reportedly broke at 11:30 a.m., causing floodwaters to surge up to two meters deep by noon. By 6:00 p.m., the water had receded significantly.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, the annual Wattah Wattah Festival in San Juan City was briefly disrupted by a confrontation between two youth groups, resulting in a broken bottle and an injury. Law enforcement quickly intervened to address the scuffle, providing first aid to the injured individual and launching an investigation, allowing the festival to largely proceed. San Juan City implemented specific "basaan zones," limited water dousing hours (7 AM - 2 PM), and enforced prohibitions against dirty water, high-pressure sprays, and dousing from vehicles to prevent issues. Despite the isolated incident, the majority of the Wattah Wattah Festival continued peacefully, with residents and visitors adhering to the rules and enjoying the traditional water dousing.

Still in other news, a man ended up in jail after he allegedly assaulted his live-in-partner over a game of Scatter. According to the report of Brigada News Philippines, the incident happened on June 23, Purok Ilaya, Brgy. Tuyan, Naga, Cebu. The suspect, Satur, is 29 years old, while the victim, Mae, is 24. Mae said that the suspect borrowed her cellphone, and she suspected that he used her e-wallet to play on Scatter, eventually leading to an argument and to the assault.

Source: KAMI.com.gh