1 dies, areas flooded, trips aborted

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  – A 33-year-old man got drowned when tropical storm Gener struck Western Visayas with days of intermittent rains, which also resulted in flooding of some parts of the region and the cancellation of sea voyages.

According to a report of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), as of 2p.m. yesterday, the victim, Ronald Nicor of Brgy. Pangalcagan in Bugasong town of Antique, was carried away by strong currents while crossing Paliwan River and was later found dead.

As of yesterday morning, the RDRRMC reported that Hinobaan town and Bago City in Negros Occidental were affected as the southwest monsoon enhanced by Gener brought continuous heavy rains resulting in flooding.

In Hinobaan, 355 families in seven barangays were affected. Of this number, 139 have evacuated and temporarily stayed either on their neighbors or nearby elementary school buildings. In Bago City, 120 families were displaced from their homes and were temporarily staying at the Brgy. Binubuhan Covered Court.

The RDRRMC also said flooding had totally destroyed 23 houses and partially damaged 131 more in Negros Occidental. It further said that portions of Tangalan Bridge in Brgy. Poblacion of Tangalan town in Aklan cracked.

The bridge, connecting Ibajay town toward Caticlan in Malay, Aklan, remained impassable to all types of vehicles, forcing motorists and travelers to cross it by foot, while cargo vehicles were rerouted via Antique to reach Malay.

Strong wind and rough seas brought by Gener have forced fast craft companies to cancel the scheduled Iloilo-Bacolod trips yesterday.

Pio Celiz, assistant station commander of the Philippine Coast Guard–Iloilo Station, said that shipping companies, by their own volition, suspended navigation because docking in Bacolod City was very difficult.

Passengers were stranded but “they have to understand that it’s for their safety,” he said, adding that once the weather permits, ferries could resume their trips.

Early morning yesterday, an Ocean Jet ferry, which left Iloilo Port at 6:15 a.m., returned after the management decided it could not moor in Bacolod City port due to strong waves.

Meanwhile, Commodore Athelo Ybañez, PCG-Western Visayas commander, said many passengers were also stranded at the Iloilo wharf in Iloilo City and the wharfs of Buenavista and Jordan towns in Guimaras province.

At around 10 a.m., PCG-Iloilo Station did not allow passenger pumpboats to travel. “We have stationed personnel not only in Iloilo and Guimaras but also in other stations like Caticlan in Malay, Aklan,” Ybañez said.

“Kung malakas talaga ang hangin at maalon, hindi talaga namin papayagan,” he said, adding that, if the weather stabilizes, PCG may allow pump boats to travel only if all passengers wear life jackets before sailing, and that the vessels must only travel with 75 percent of their maximum capacity and in tandem with another boat.