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Thursday, August 03, 2006
1 dies, 100 flee from floods in Misamis Oriental
By Joey P. Nacalaban and Lizanilla J. Amarga
BALINGASAG, Misamis Oriental -- One person was killed, another went missing, and almost a hundred families fled their houses as a waterspout and heavy rains hit 11 barangays in Balingasag and Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental Wednesday.
Officials initially placed the damage to infrastructure, agricultural crops, and properties to around P20 million.
The barangays affected will be formally declared Thursday as under a state of calamity by local legislators.
The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental is now asking the National Government and Misamis Oriental Congressman Danilo Lagbas to allocate funds for proper infrastructure that will re-channel the Balatucan River's flow so it would not flood the areas.
Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, Provincial Board infrastructure committee chairman Jimmy Caiña, and Provincial Press Office chief Maricel Casiño-Rivera rushed to Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to check on the developments in the area.
Accompanying them were rescue groups that include the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) under Teddy Sabugaa, Red Cross Philippines, and Presidential Awardee Philippine Rescue 2000 led by dxIF Bombo Radyo operations manager Michael Bustamante.
Residents recounted how heavy rains had started pouring at 3:00 a.m. and at 4:30 a.m. they heard a loud explosion followed by a sudden rush of water flooding their villages.
"What happened was a catastrophe. It was just fortunate that the cyclone hit when people were already prepared and it was already early morning as if it happened at midnight then the damage and those affected would be more huge," Moreno said.
The governor lauded Napaliran village chief Claver Miral for doing everything he can--ringing the church bells and revving his motorcycle--to warn the people.
Damaged dike
Caiña who surveyed the area found that the "buhawi" or waterspout damaged a 150- to 200-meter dike of the Balatucan River located at an elevated area in Napaliran, Balingasag.
"It was the huge amount of water brought about by the cyclone that destroyed the dike," he said.
Moreno said he has allocated funds for flood control projects in the areas, particularly in Napaliran, Balingasag, when he was still a congressman of the first district of Misamis Oriental.
"In Napaliran, almost every year since 1999 there was one person who died because of flooding in the area," he said.
Moreno voiced hopes that Lagbas and even the National Government would look into the situation and put in more flood control infrastructure such as a "re-channeling project."
"Because the Provincial Government's funds are so limited," the governor said.
Rivera reported that Ronald Ayuman, a resident from Barangay Kibanban, was found dead. Rescuers immediately brought his remains to the nearest funeral parlor.
The identity of the missing person is still to be determined as of Wednesday.
Balingasag Vice Mayor Alex Quina said they are going to call for a special session Wednesday to place the affected barangays under a state of calamity. This way, they would be able to use their calamity funds.
Affected families
Some 331 families in the nine Balingasag barangays and municipality of Lagonglong were affected.
Rivera added that 10 houses in Barangay Napaliran, Balingasag were completely washed out while other four houses were damaged.
"An estimated 30 families are now affected in Balingasag and lagonglong and we are now doing our best to provide for them," she said.
Rivera said there are four affected families from Barangay Mambayangao, 10 from Barangay Talusan, 20 from Waterpol, 20 from Mandangwa, and 10 from Cogon.
She said they are still gathering data on the affected families in San Isidro, Lingagao, and Kibanban.
"These affected families are now at our evacuation centers in Napaliran Central School and the Mambayaan barangay hall," said Rivera.
Rivera said they are still waiting for the report on the number of families affected in barangays Muhon and Kausawagan, Lagongong.
Estimated damage to agricultural crops and personal belongings was placed at P9 to 10 million.
There were also reports that several Misamis Oriental II Electric Cooperative (Moresco II) power posts were uprooted and power was cut off in the area.
"The river current may have slowed down but the water is still up. There might still be some people who got washed out," said Bustamante. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(August 3, 2006 issue)
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