ShareThisGov’t officials warn
of landslides, floods
as death toll rises to 25
By FRANCO G. REGALA and CLAIRE M. TRUE
Special to Fil-Am Megascene
CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City (PilipinasNews) – Hundreds of people have been trapped in pockets of landslides and floods triggered by continuous rains in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao during the past days, resulting to at least 25 deaths and hundreds evacuated to higher and safer areas.
Agricultural crops, livestock, infrastructures and properties worth millions of pesos were also destroyed in the areas affected due to the incessant rains, according to authorities. In Caraga region alone, the damage to agriculture and infrastructure has been estimated at more than P200 million.
At least 12,651 hectares of rice lands, 46 hectares of corn and 346 hectares of other crops in the whole Caraga region were destroyed while 916 heads of livestock were drowned, according to the Department of Agriculture.
In Bicol region, 627.50 hectares of seedlings and newly transplanted stage of rice and vegetables were affected in Albay which already has been declared in a state of calamity like Surigao del Sur.
Albay governor and Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman Joey Salceda has deputized the Philippine Navy, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to facilitate the relief and rescue operations in flooded areas and those affected by lahar from Mayon volcano.
In Northern Mindanao, 10 barangays of Tubod, Lanao del Norte, damage to crops, livestock and fisheries was estimated at P3.6 million. Others affected are Davao provinces, Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis.
The Cagayan de Oro City post office and adjoining office of the Bureau of Telecommunications were razed by fire believed to be triggered by faulty electrical wiring and the floods. It was not immediately known if the adjoining Postal Bank office was affected by the blaze.
The prospects of clearer skies and end to floodings appeared dim at press time as the government weather forecasters warned of incessant rain, especially in the Bicol region where at least three persons had died and hundreds evacuated.
The latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report revealed that nearly 93,000 families or about 500,000 people were affected by the incessant rains in eight regions in the country, most of them from Bicol and the Caraga region that includes the Agusan and Surigao provinces.
The death toll is now 25, with two others reported missing in a province in Caraga region, according to NDRRMC in a briefing here.
At press time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that the tail-end of a cold front may trigger flashfloods and landslides over the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas in the coming days.
In its advisory issued January 6, PAGASA cited the persisting cold front affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao brings scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.
PAGASA added the cold front may cause widespread rains over the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
Fishermen in Luzon and Visayas have been advised not to venture out into the sea due to big waves generated by moderate to strong northeasterly winds.
Dr. Landrico Dalida Jr. of PAGASA reported that satellite monitor showed that cloudiness is very evident in Bicol even until next week.
He said that within 24 hours, PAGASA recorded a total of 50mm rainfall amount in Legazpi City alone.
Dalida told the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council that the Bicol region will still experience moderate to heavy rain until Sunday, January 9.
“In general, the entire Bicol region can expect more heavy rains specially starting Friday to Sunday, and on Monday, January 10, there will be a fair weather condition,” Dalida said.
He, however, said that on Tuesday, January 11 based from the satellite monitoring, Bicol provinces specially Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Camarines will have a moderate to heavy rainfall.
The military have been tapped to help in rescue operations of landslide flood victims. In Southern Leyte alone where at least three barangays were isolated with more than 200 affected by floods, the military used two helicopters to forcibly take them out of their communities which officials have long considered as danger zones.
Lt. Col. Noel Vestuir, spokesman of the military’s 8th Infantry Division, said they are racing against time to rescue the trapped residents since weather experts’ assessment of more rains in the coming days in the area could trigger more landslides that would endanger their lives.
The three villages affected were Barangays Mahayag, Malinao and Tabon-Tabon all in St. Bernard town, where a massive landslide once buried a school killing several students and teachers.