Floods, rains continue to displace thousands in the Visayas, Palawan

A number of localities in the Visayas and Palawan continue to deal with lashing rains and floods on Tuesday spawned by weather disturbances that have forced thousands of residents to remain in evacuation centers, disrupted sea travel and prompted suspension of classes.

The southwest monsoon coupled with Tropical Depression “Gener” that dumped torrential rains since Monday has triggered the displacement of over 44,000 families in Western Visayas.

In Palawan, floods caused over 3,000 families, or about 11,656 people, to flee their homes on Tuesday.

The number of evacuees in the capital Puerto Princesa City alone rose to 2,120 families (7,611 people) on Tuesday from Monday’s 2,095 families (7,544 people), while some 1,333 families remained in shelters across Palawan, the disaster risk reduction and management offices (DRRMO) said Tuesday.

In Western Visayas, the provinces of Negros Occidental and Antique bore most of the brunt, affecting at least 26,832 households, or 85,075 people and 17,212 families, or 54,571 people, respectively, disaster response officials said.

In Aklan, 155 families (754 people) were affected followed by Guimaras (33 families, or 99 people), and Iloilo (22 families, or 101 people).

Missing, death toll

In Sipalay City in Negros Occidental, strong winds and waves caused two barges carrying 7,500 metric tons of limestone ore to run aground in Campomanes Bay on Sept. 14. All 16 crew members of the two barges were safe.

Ensign James Carbajosa, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)Southern Negros Occidental Station acting commander, said they had yet to determine if some corals were damaged by the barges, B/Big Job and B/Big Sun, which came from Bohol and were bound for Rio Tuba in Bataraza town in Palawan.

Asian Shipping Company Corp., the owner of the two barges, is sending a new barge for the spilled limestone ore to be loaded on.

The PCG and other rescuers at the Campomanes Bay are also searching for Gilbert Vicencio, 14, who went missing in the area on Sunday.

Another person who went missing on Saturday, Macario Villasan, 67, in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, was found dead on Monday, according to Mayor Daph Reliquias.

Palawan also reported two drowning incidents on Tuesday.

The Puerto Princesa City DRRMO said a still unnamed 4-year-old boy drowned Sunday in Barangay Tagburos.

State of calamity

In Roxas town, Janert Ubay, 38, was swept away by flood on Sunday. Her body was recovered by Roxas disaster response personnel on Monday morning, the Palawan provincial DRRMO said.

San Enrique town in Negros Occidental has declared a state of calamity due to the damage to homes, farms and public infrastructure caused by floods.

Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said some local officials asked evacuees not to go home yet because heavy to intense rains may continue.

The floods and strong winds destroyed nine houses and damaged 121 others in Negros Occidental.

The bad weather also grounded several sea trips in Western Visayas since Monday, affecting routes between Guimaras and Negros Occidental, as well as Jordan and Buenavista in Guimaras and Parola Wharf in Iloilo were affected, the PCG said.

Damage to crops in Negros Occidental was pegged at P19.3 million, while the fisheries and livestock sectors lost P424,362 and P699,720 respectively.

Classes in the capital Bacolod City and most of Negros Occidental have been suspended since Sept. 13 as heavy rains and flooding continue.

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Department of Social Welfare and Development Western Visayas Director Carmelo Nochete said food packs were distributed to affected individuals in the region.

Alert status

Meanwhile, the Palawan DRRMO said evacuated families in several municipalities went down to 1,333 families (4,065 people) from 1,528 (6,121 people) recorded Monday after some residents were allowed to go home on Tuesday.

Puerto Princesa’s DRRMO head Earl Timbancaya said two sections of the national highway going to Barangay Napsan were not passable while a portion of the road along Kilometer 36 cracked and a landslide occurred in Kilometer 43 on Tuesday.

Major thoroughfares in the city were submerged in almost knee-deep floods as rivers overflowed in some northern barangays.

The Palawan DRRMO upgraded its alert level status from blue to red on Monday as heavy rains poured without letup since the past weekend.

Some 30 houses were affected—25 damaged and five destroyed, while 39 bancas were damaged and four others were destroyed in Palawan.

The PCG still implemented a no sail policy in Palawan, while classes in all levels at public and private schools were suspended Monday and Tuesday.

Precautions

In Bohol, classes in Tagbilaran City and 34 municipalities were also suspended on Tuesday.

“Heavy rainfall is experienced in Tagbilaran City today. Expect slippery roads and possible landslides. Please refrain from going out and stay dry inside your house. This is to ensure the safety of our students,” Tagbilaran Mayor Jane Yap said in an advisory.

In Eastern Visayas, the Office of Civil Defense on Tuesday cautioned those living near major waterways and tributaries in Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Samar to be vigilant against flooding and landslide. —WITH REPORTS FROM JOEY GABIETA AND LEO UDTOHAN INQ