Capiz bears brunt of massive floods caused by ‘Ramil’
ILOILO CITY—The province of Capiz bore the brunt of Tropical Storm “Ramil) (international name: Fengshen) that dumped heavy rains in many parts of the Visayas and Luzon even a day before it hit land in Gubat, Sorsogon on Oct. 18.
At least 102,00 Capiznons were affected by the widespread floods that inundated the capital Roxas City and its towns on Saturday, many of which still under water on Monday, according to the Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).
Those in Capiz accounted for most of the 133,196 people in four regions that the National DRRMC, in a report Monday, said were affected by the storm.
According to the NDRRMC, the number of deaths due to Ramil rose from six to seven, five of whom were from a family crushed by a fallen tree in Quezon province and two from Capiz. The two missing persons were from Eastern Visayas, while one was reportedly injured in Calabarzon.
The NDRRMC has yet to release the total number of infrastructure and agricultural damage.
State of calamity
According to the Capiz PDRRMC, at least 215 barangays across 15 municipalities and Roxas City have experienced flooding, displacing 27,285 families or 102,419 individuals.
The municipality of Panay recorded the highest number of affected residents with 8,935 families (35,247 individuals), followed by Sigma with 5,876 families (22,571 individuals) and President Roxas with 3,705 families (10,709 individuals).
In Roxas City, 2,223 families or 7,489 residents were affected, while Maayon and Ivisan towns also saw significant flooding that displaced 1,956 families (6,411 individuals) and 1,564 families (6,206 individuals) respectively.
The city council of Roxas on Sunday placed the city under a state of calamity due to severe flooding across multiple barangays, damaging properties, agricultural lands, and infrastructure, while also prompting the evacuation of affected residents.
Roxas Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, on Sunday, reassured residents the city government was working closely with both local and national agencies to coordinate immediate relief and rehabilitation operations.
“This (state of calamity) declaration will allow us to mobilize resources more quickly and accelerate recovery efforts to assist our affected constituents,” Dadivas said in a statement.
Other municipalities with affected populations include Panitan, Mambusao, Dao, Cuartero, Dumalag, Dumarao, Pilar, Pontevedra, and Sapian.
The data was consolidated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and validated by local disaster response teams.
Rescue operations
Continuous rainfall over the weekend—intensified by Ramil’s outer rainbands—caused rivers to swell, submerging low-lying areas and rendering several roads impassable, the PDRRMC said.
Thousands of residents had to be rescued in flooded areas in the towns of Panay, Pontevedra, Sigma, and Roxas City, where knee- to waist-deep floods have inundated several barangays.
The Philippine Coast Guard–Roxas Station and Bureau of Fire Protection assisted in transporting residents to safer grounds, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development dispatched family food packs and hygiene kits to the hardest-hit areas.
Health concerns
Amid the flooding, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) released a health advisory on Oct. 18 reminding residents about the risks of leptospirosis and other waterborne diseases due to prolonged exposure to floodwaters.
The PHO advised those exposed to contaminated water to immediately seek post-exposure prophylaxis, which is available for free at local health facilities.
On Monday morning, Ramil has moved westward and has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
However, Pagasa warned that rains would still persist over parts of Western Visayas, including Capiz, due to the enhanced southwest monsoon and saturated soil conditions.
Gov. Fredenil Castro on Monday urged Capiznons to remain vigilant and follow official advisories: “We ask our people to stay cautious, especially those in flood-prone and landslide-prone barangays. Local government units are on full alert to ensure everyone’s safety.”
As of Monday morning, clearing operations and damage assessments were ongoing, while authorities continue to monitor possible outbreaks, infrastructure damage, and livelihood disruptions in the aftermath of the storm.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has also activated its disaster response teams assist the NDRRMC and the local governments in the clearing operations.
“I have already directed all our commanders on the ground to ensure that a sufficient number of our personnel be deployed to assist in road clearing operations,” said Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a statement Monday. —WITH A REPORT FROM JASON SIGALES
