Gwen mobilizes all agencies: State of calamity in two southern towns

CEBU, Philippines – A state of calamity has been declared in the towns of Santander and Samboan due to the damage wrought by flashfloods brought about by incessant rain over the weekend.

This as Cebu Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council (CPDCC) Chairman Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the people and agencies concerned to bring everything back to normal by 12 noon on Thursday.

She gave this order during an emergency meeting yesterday that also had the mayors of the southern towns in attendance along with contractors and other stake holders.

The damage to property and crops in the Municipalities of Santander and Samboan have been estimated to reach P20 million. There are also reports of damage in the towns of Barili and Ginatilan, both at the southwestern side of the province.

Governor Garcia has also ordered the relocation of residents at high-risk and the purchase of materials to repair the damaged houses.

The province also sent relief goods yesterday to the affected families in coordination with the National Food Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre reported to the governor the extent of the damage and the equipment needed to repair such.

He also said that based on the statements of the affected residents, a water spout locally known as a buhawi caused the flooding.

The Regional Director of the Office of the Civil Defense, Minda Morante, said that about 250 families were affected by the flooding in the town of Santander alone.

Santander Mayor Wilson Wenceslao said crops like coconuts and bananas have been damaged while livestock were also killed.

He also reported that there is a damaged bridge and some water lines have also been damaged.

In the town of Samboan, four barangays are seriously affected while three other villages sustained minor damage.

Seriously affected were barangays San Sebastian, Colase, Dalahican and Tangbo where 25 houses were totally damaged and 185 others were partially damaged. Ten boats have also been reported missing while 15 other vessels were damaged.

In barangay Poblacion, 60 families were affected, 15 families in Bonbon and 20 at Suba.

However in the town of Barili, minor damage to property was reported in barangays San Rafael, Sta. Ana and Poblacion.

Mayor Dean Michael Singco of Ginatilan said that they also experienced flashfloods but luckily there was no major damage wrought in his town. - /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)