Bad weather delays rebuilding efforts in Tausug, Samah villages

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  --- Tausog and Samah villagers whose stilt seaside houses were destroyed by big waves that battered the coasts of Jolo town in Sulu early this week are reluctant to start rebuilding their homes due to inclement weather.

Authorities were also forced to close down the Jolo seaport due to bad weather since last weekend, stranding some 500 seafarers supposedly bound for Zamboanga City.

The office of Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan II has provided food to the stranded boat passengers, according to the provincial information office.

A pregnant boat passenger, who gave birth in one of the boats marooned at the port, was rushed to a hospital by responding provincial relief workers.

Laisa Alamia, regional executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (HEART) has sent more than 2,500 food packs to Sulu as initial assistance to the displaced residents.

Mayor Hussin Amin of Jolo, capital town of Sulu, said what hit their town was a “storm surge,” but less destructive than what ravaged Tacloban City and parts of Leyte and other provinces in the Visayas .

Weather in Sulu “has been unpredictable"  since big waves destroyed hundreds of houses along its coasts, and broke into pieces the concrete pavement, and a portion of a watercraft berthing facility at the Jolo wharf, according to Amin.

The Sulu Area Coordinating Center (ACC), which is operating under the supervision of  Tan, said the displaced villagers are staying in makeshift relief centers, being assisted by the provincial government and the office of Amin.

The ACC, in an emailed statement, said  213 families were dislocated by the calamity.

Alamia, who is helping ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman oversee the HEART, said provincial officials of the region’s health, social welfare and local government departments are now documenting the extent of the dislocation of the affected Jolo residents.