Cebu under calamity state

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has placed the whole province under state of calamity following the devastation brought by typhoon Ruby that hovered over areas in the Visayas over the weekend.

In an approved resolution for the declaration, sponsored by Board members Peter John Calderon and Christopher Baricuatro as the co-sponsor, the PB said despite the anticipation made by the local government, properties were not spared from the fury of the typhoon Ruby “particularly the northern part and islands.”

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that there were 12 LGUs badly hit by typhoon Ruby which are also the towns and city that bore the brunt of super typhoon Yolanda a year ago.

These are the towns of Tabogon, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Madridejos, Bantayan, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, Pilar and the city of Bogo.

The province has yet to come up with the damage estimates as rapid assessment is still ongoing.

The declaration of state of calamity allows the pro-vince to utilize its disaster funds for the relief services and other emergency acts in response to the typhoon.

Capitol currently has a remaining amount of P77 million in disaster funds for this year, as reported by the Provincial Budget Office, at least P30 million of it is intended for disaster response and the rest is for disaster preparedness.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration yesterday lifted the public storm warning signals for Cebu.

However, typhoon Ruby left the province with three casualties; Jimmy Cardente, 14, who was electrocuted in Malabuyoc town; Felipe Baring, 60, who died of hypothermia in Bogo City; and an elderly woman named Virfinia Solitario, of Barangay Sulangan, Bantayan town, who allegedly died due to anxiety during the typhoon. She had been suffering from heart disease.

A certain Leonisa dela Fuente, of Barangay Suba, Bantayan, also died of biliary astresia, a disease of the liver and bile ducts, at the height of the typhoon, but Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera said her death was not incidental to the typhoon.

A certain Ricardo Apas, 79, who went missing on Sunday in Medellin town was found alive yesterday by her daughter.

“Her daughter Lenie Pobadora received reports from her neighbors that her father was at the residence of retired colonel Romeo Villapez in Sitio Planta, Medellin. Mr. Apas is already 79 years old and is fine,” the town of Medellin posted in its official Facebook account.

The province experienced two tropical cyclones in less than two weeks. The PB earlier placed 15 LGUs in the southern part of Cebu under state of calamity state of calamity due to tropical depression Queenie last November 27.

The heavy downpour brought by the tropical depression caused massive flooding in areas in the south, inflicted damage to agriculture and infrastructure, and killed one person who was swept away by floodwaters.

The province initially placed the damage caused by Queenie at P230 million.

Meanwhile, PDRRMO head Baltazar Tribunalo commended the LGUs in the province for having been proactive in terms of preparedness.

He said despite that the fact that there were fatalities due to ‘Ruby,’ but these were not “preparedness-related.”

He suggested having communication open between local officials and the community. He said disaster preparedness should be a practice that goes down to the community level.

Better Weather

Cebu and Central Visayas will generally experience good weather until Wednesday.  PAGASA Visayas director Oscar Tabada said the region can take it easy for now.

He further assured the public that no possible tropical disturbance approaching Philippines was spotted by authorities at least in the coming five days.

Earlier, Tabada said two tropical cyclones will likely hit before December’s end. Since typhoon Ruby already came, one more is expected for December, before the year ends and will be named “Seniang.”

Power Restored in Northern Cebu

Power supply in northern Cebu which felt most of typhoon Ruby’s wrath was gradually restored by the Cebu Electric Cooperative.

As of 11 a.m. yesterday areas near the highway in Compostela, Danao City, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon and Tabogon were re-energized.

The town proper of San Remigio town was likewise restored power before noon yesterday.  Targeted to be re-energized are Daanbantayan, Medellin and Bogo City.

This is according to an update by Lowell Belciña of CEBECO.

Crop damage

The Danao City Agriculture Office reported 40 hectares of corn were damaged as well as 150 hectares of banana trees and 3.75 hectares of mango trees in 39 barangays in the city, excluding Barangays Suba, Looc and Poblacion.

This assessment is still initial, said city agriculturist Mario Gorre, after he visited the different barangays yesterday afternoon to determine the total damage caused by typhoon Ruby. —with Jessa J. Agua and Jose P. Sollano/BRP