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Sunday, May 14, 2006
'Caloy' isolates Antique; N. Samar in state of calamity
ILOILO CITY -- Tropical storm Caloy (Chanchu) has left Antique Province in complete isolation from the province of Iloilo after its bridges were impassable due to overflowing floodwaters and landslides.
The government also declared Northern Samar in a state of calamity due to the damages brought by typhoon Caloy.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to support local government units hit by the tropical storm.
The weather bureau reported that as of 5 p.m. Saturday tropical storm Caloy continues to move farther away from the islands of Mindoro and is now heading towards the South China Sea.
The government news agency reported that the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, northern Iloilo and northern Negros all of Western Visayas were battered by the tropical storm with gusty winds and heavy downpour since Thursday night until late Friday evening causing flashflood in the city and flood-prone areas in the province of Iloilo and other parts of Panay and parts of Negros island.
Engineer John Ticao of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 4th Engineering District, said overflowing floodwater caused heavy damage to the approach and foundation of the Nanga bridge and Tumagboc bridge, rendering it impassable to motorists since Friday afternoon.
The situation was further aggravated by a landslide along the mountain highway in barangays Dag-asan and Tiolas, San Joaquin town in southern Iloilo.
The Nanga bridge is located between the boundaries of Guimbal and Tigbauan towns and the Tumagboc bridge in Miag-ao linked with the neighboring province of Antique via the municipality of San Joaquin in southern Iloilo.
Ticao said the DPWH worked double time since late Friday evening to speed up the work of damaged infrastructure projects in coordination with the local government units affected to make the bridge passable.
Late Friday evening, they have constructed a bailey bridge in Nanga but their work was hampered due to the rise of floodwater brought by continuous rain in the area.
The municipal disaster council of Miag-ao also feared that the bridge in barangays Naulid and Oyungan might collapse due to the gradual erosion on its approach with the continued rise of floodwater.
The public works office, however, assured local officials concerned that they are doing everything to restore the damaged infrastructure.
Heavy downpour spawned by Caloy also submerged major streets and low-lying areas in Iloilo City last Friday, particularly the streets surrounding the Central Market in downtown Iloilo and South Market area including its suburbs.
Massive flooding and brownouts were also experienced in most municipalities in the province of Iloilo. Scores of electric posts owned by the Iloilo Electric Cooperatives have been toppled down by strong winds, uprooted giant trees along its path and destroyed scores of houses made of light materials.
In Bacolod City, five persons were reported missing in Barangay Daga, Cadiz City Saturday morning.
Melvin Fierro, a staff of the Provincial Disaster Management Team identified the missing individuals as Solgen Locsin, Toto and Banhao, both with surname of De la Cruz and also the father and son, Adelino and Gleen Delorosa.
Fierro said Locsin and the De la Cruzes are fishermen in the area who went on "pamanggal" (crab fishing) since Thursday.
But until Saturday morning, the three still failed to go home causing their respective relatives to go on panic, Fierro said.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador "Bading" Escalante, Jr., on the other hand, ordered their City Bantay Dagat Counci with the assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue operations for the five missing Cadiznons.
In Northern Samar, the local government decided to declare a state of calamity after floodwaters and soil erosion damaged homes, roads, bridges and farmlands in the villages of Abad Santos and Sampaguita in Catarman town.
No casualties were reported as residents were evacuated to safer ground. At least 3,600 families were affected by the flooding in three towns.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye in a statement said, President Arroyo ordered the NDCC to coordinate mitigation efforts to protect lives and property, as well as rescue and evacuation.
"Geo-hazard warnings have already been sent out to vulnerable communities so the people will know they are under threat. The plight of stranded seafarers is also being attended to," Bunye said.
Caloy is the first tropical storm to hit the Philippines this year. It has left over 4,500 people stranded in key ports in Central Visayas, Sorsogon and Eastern Bicol while domestic flights and ferry operations in some parts of the country were suspended. (Sunnex)
(May 14, 2006 issue)
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