DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Life had relatively returned to normal in the city and Negros Oriental province early yesterday after typhoon Pablo slammed many areas here late Tuesday, although many areas have remained without electricity.
Governor Roel Degamo has lauded the local government units, government agencies and the public for undertaking pre-emptive measures that led to a relatively minimal damage of properties and lives, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.
Degamo had already given the go-signal for the return to their respective houses the 600 families who were brought to evacuation centers in ten towns and cities last Tuesday.
Post-disaster assessment of damage of infrastructure, private property and agricultural crops and livestock started yesterday morning as the weather cleared.
Classes were to resume in public schools that were not affected by the storm, as ordered by Negros Oriental division of schools superintendent, Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, said Sedillo.
The Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVRAA) games also resumed yesterday morning, he added.
Clearing operations continue by rescue groups, volunteers and trouble shooting teams of the power utilities after many trees, felled by strong winds, broke power lines and destroyed transformers.
Sedillo said the PDRRMC will hopefully be able to release a report on the extent of damage caused by Pablo as soon as reports from LGUs and line government agencies will be submitted to the Capitol.
At the city port, a storm surge during the onslaught of Pablo, that lasted about three hours, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. last Tuesday, triggered big waves of as high as five feet that battered and damaged infrastructure there.
The Philippine Coast Guard station in Dumaguete reported that the relatively new modern passenger terminal incurred the most damage, and offices of the PCG itself, the Philippine Ports Authority and the Bureau of Customs were flooded with sea water of as much as 2.5-foot deep.
PPA-Dumaguete manager Anale Maneses could not be contacted at press time for comment on how much in estimated damages was incurred with the destruction of the covered walkway at the passenger terminal.
The city port was closed to traffic on Wednesday, except for passengers who boarded vessels from Dumaguete to various destinations after the Coast Guard allowed the resumption of sea travel early on the same day.
No vessels were docked at the port during the storm surge and no one was reported hurt although around 60 families in the coastal barangay of Looc, where the port is located, were evacuated to safer ground after rising sea water levels inundated their homes.
However, the floating barge of Delta Ferries, which was anchored to one of the piers, was dislodged and pushed to the shoreline, hitting the Rizal Boulevard seawall, where it now lies grounded.
Initial investigation showed that around 6:30 p.m. the floating barge, which is utilized as both the passenger terminal and docking bay of Delta Ferries, was hit several times by big waves which disengaged its anchors to the pier. No persons were on board the floating barge/terminal when the incident happened.
The Coast Guard has asked the operator of Delta Ferries, Mark Gobonseng, to file a marine protest with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
PCG commander Senior Chief Petty Officer Nelson Simbajon said the beached floating barge could not be removed yet from its current location pending investigation by the MARINA.
Also, an inspection has to be undertaken to determine the safety of the floating dock barge or whether there are leaks before this can be towed away from shore. (FREEMAN)