15 towns under calamity state

CEBU, Philippines - Following the damage caused by Tropical Depression Queenie that hit southern Cebu on Thursday, the Provincial Board has placed 15 towns under state of calamity.

This as it also placed damage caused by the disaster at P230 million.

During its regular session yesterday, the PB passed the resolution in mass motion for the declaration that covers the towns of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, Alcantara, Ronda and Dumanjug.

The declaration allows the province to use its disaster funds for relief services and other emergency acts. Capitol currently has P77 million in remaining disaster funds, as reported by Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas. Of the amount, at least P30 million is intended for disaster response.

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. The lone fatality was identified as Alona Baldado, 50, who died after her house was swept away by raging floodwaters from the Saliring River in Barangay Poblacion 1, Malabuyoc.

In the initial report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the amount of damage to houses, infrastructure, livestock, and agriculture pegged at P230 million, based on the rapid assessment submitted by 11 towns out of the 15 affected. Estimated damage to houses alone amounted to P105 million.

PDRRMO head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., made it clear that the assessment is not yet final. He said other affected LGUs have yet to finalize and submit their assessments today.

Malabuyoc, which was hardest hit, reported P54.7 million in damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Dalaguete town reported that damage to its vegetables, livestock and fisheries reached P27.8 million, 49 houses destroyed, 238 damaged and four people slightly injured, or so said the assessment report submitted by different departments in yesterday’s meeting.

The report from PDRRMO only placed damage to Dalaguete town at P14.7 million.

 Mayor Ronald Cesante called for a meeting with his department heads yesterday to assess the extent of the tropical depression last week.

As per their assessment, as forwarded by town administrator Rydal Cisneros to The Freeman, the town’s agriculture industry sustained a damage pegged at P27,821,883, with its vegetable gardens getting the most destruction valued at P21 million. For “other crops,” a P1.8M damage was estimated while P2.2 million for rice crops and P158,3000 to livestock animals. Queenie also caused damaged to the town’s fisheries pegged at P1.9 million.

For infrastructure, the report noted that the dikes and river control system in Poblacion and Mantalongon areas were also affected, while seawall and shore protection in Poblacion also sustained similar damage. No amounts were listed for damage to those structures.

Other affected areas were the Dumalan-Mantalongon-Bulak Road, Mantalongon-Maloray road and Babayongan, the Salug Spillway, which was “totally destroyed,” and the Bulak Footbridge, which was also wrecked.

The Manlapay Municipal Road and the Mag-Alambak In-Rate Road also caved in following the heavy rains, while the Obong-Tubod Road and the Lanao Access Road sustained damage.

The town’s three water systems: Caleriohan, Upper Obo Water System and Dalaguete Water District were also not spared. The Amonsaw Elementary School, Caleriohan Elementary School and Dalaguete National High School were also reported to need repairs after the tropical depression.

The 238 damaged houses and the 49 destroyed houses left 193 families in need of food assistance. Cisnero said Municipal Social Welfare Officer Evelyn Sarmago already worked out the release of additional food packs for the displaced families.  — with Liv G. Campo/BRP (FREEMAN)