Isabela under state of calamity

CAUAYAN, Isabela – The province of Isabela has been placed under a state of calamity due to massive damage caused by recent typhoons.

Gov. Rodito Albano declared a state of calamity yesterday after an assessment conducted by the Department of Agriculture showed Isabela incurred P2 billion in crop damage from the six successive typhoons that entered the country from October to early this month.

Albano said the declaration would be formalized today through the passage of a resolution by the provincial board.

He said up to P20 million would be allocated to assist typhoon-affected farmers, who received financial assistance when President Marcos visited the province on Friday.

Albano said he would meet with local officials to discuss the distribution of financial and relief assistance to residents displaced by floods.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways has yet to assess the damage to infrastructure.

Psychosocial assistance

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will send psychosocial responders to help typhoon victims in Cagayan Valley and Bicol rebuild their lives.

The first group of responders will help children and other vulnerable people cope with the trauma caused by the calamities.

“The effects of the recent tropical cyclones that hit our country have brought emotional stress to some of our kababayans,” Irene Dumlao, chief of the DSWD disaster response management group, said.

Dumlao said that through counseling, the trauma caused by disasters on affected people would be lessened.

In Albay, the responders conducted a psychosocial support activity for 30 children at the Agos Elementary School in Polangui.

A similar activity conducted in Barangay Borabod in Libon town was attended by 63 children.

Up to 21 families in Canaman and Camaligan towns in Camarines Sur, who lost relatives at the height of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon, participated in the counseling.

In nearby Milaor town, the DSWD conducted art therapy with storytelling for nine children.

Seven children in Sta. Cruz, Canaman received psychological first aid, the DSWD said.

In Cagayan Valley, a psychosocial support team from the DSWD’s office in Nueva Vizcaya provided assistance to two people from Ambaguio town who lost their loved ones at the height of typhoons Nika, Ofel and Pepito.

During psychosocial counseling, responders allow clients to share their experiences and fears or worries, with the hope that doing so will lessen their pains.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has deployed communication systems to typhoon-affected areas in Catanduanes.

Marcos ordered the deployment when he visited the province last week.

Marcos directed various government agencies to immediately distribute relief goods and provide shelter to victims of Pepito, as well as restore communication and power connections.

DICT Secretary Ivan Uy requested Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) executive director Alexander Ramos to provide emergency communication support to Catanduanes.

The CICC deployed a self-powered, all-weather, all-terrain communication system to provide people internet connection.

Two emergency communications boxes were sent to Virac on Friday, with the help of the Philippine Air Force and the Office of Civil Defense.

The emergency commsbox is capable of providing free WiFi connection to 100 users per day.

Eleven of 16 municipalities in Catanduanes were severely affected by Pepito.

Authorities said it would take two weeks to fully restore power in the province. — Sheila Crisostomo