Masbate, Samar’s Calbayog declare state of calamity
LEGAZPI CITY—The island province of Masbate and Calbayog City in Samar province have placed their respective localities under a state of calamity to hasten their recovery from the devastation wrought by Severe Tropical Storm “Opong” (international name: Bualoi) on Friday.
Officials in these areas among local government leaders in the Bicol Region, Visayas appealing for help to get then back of their feet following the widespread damage caused by the storm.
The Masbate provincial government, in a special session on Saturday, said the declaration would expedite relief, rehabilitation and recovery operations in the province, one of the areas in the Bicol Region and the Visayas hit hard by Opong.
The declaration, posted by Masbate Gov. Ricardo Kho on his Facebook page on Saturday, would allow the release of the province’s quick response funds and implement price freeze on basic commodities.
About 16,302 families or 57,113 individuals were affected in Masbate after “Opong” made landfall in Palanas town early Friday, and severely affected most of the towns in the province.
Based on a report by the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol, at least 28,299 families or 116,729 persons were still in the evacuation centers and private shelters as of Saturday.
The report said three persons died in the province during the onslaught of Opong—a 30-year-old man pinned by a fallen tree in Monreal town; a 16-year-old boy hit by a toppled wall and a 6-year-old drowning victim in Masbate City.
Most of Masbate’s towns were still isolated on Saturday as toppled trees blocked access to many places and fallen electric posts caused widespread power outages, according to the province’s disaster response authorities.
Classes at all levels in Masbate province would remain suspended for a week, according to a memorandum issued by Nelson Morales Jr., superintendent of the Masbate Schools Division on Saturday.
Across Bicol, over 20,000 learners were affected by the storm, said the Department of Education (DepEd) Bicol Director Gilbert Sadsad in a private message to the Inquirer on Sunday.
DepEd Bicol information officer Mayflor Marie Jumamil, in a separate interview, said that based on initial rapid damage assessments, 43 schools were flooded and 11 others were hit by landslides in the region, destroying at least 138 classrooms and causing major damage to 303 others.
Damaged, destroyed
In Calbayog City, the city council also held a special session on Saturday, placing the locality in a state of calamity to fast-track recovery efforts by utilizing its calamity fund.
“Our concern now is to help the (typhoon) victims, especially those whose houses were damaged,” Mayor Raymund Uy told the local media on Saturday.
While power supply has been restored in the city proper, electricity remains down in the far-flung villages.
The city mayor reported that all of the city’s 157 barangays sustained damage or destruction from Opong, which pummeled the city on Sept. 26.
“About 15 percent of our population were affected and 30 percent of our agriculture were damaged by the typhoon,” Uy said in the press conference.
He also shared a rapid damage assessment showing that the fishery sector sustained at least P250,000 worth of damage, with 12 fishing boats reportedly destroyed.
Some infrastructure and public buildings were also damaged.
Isolated island
In Northern Samar, Gov. Harris Ongchuan visited on Saturday the island town of San Vicente, among the hardest-hit areas of the province.
Josiah Rei Echano, provincial disaster risk reduction and management council head, said their initial assessment in San Vicente disclosed that 1,475 houses in the island town were destroyed.
An undetermined number of pump boats and fishing boats were also destroyed, preventing islanders from traveling to the provincial capital town of Catarman, which is about two hours by boat.
Power and mobile phone signals on the island remained down due to the typhoon, Echano added.
During his visit, Ongchuan assured the people of San Vicente of assistance from the provincial government, including food and nonfood items and housing materials, said Echano.
Aid for Masbate
Meanwhile, several groups and local governments in Bicol have deployed teams and sent monetary aid to Masbate.
Camarines Sur on Saturday deployed a team composed of personnel from the disaster response office, police and other agencies—to help in the rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by Opong. The team would also conduct medical missions and distribute potable water and mobile command vehicles to strategic areas.
The Sorsogon provincial government also sent clearing and medical teams to Masbate, while Legazpi would release P500,000 in financial aid to the province.
The Bicol police also deployed teams in Milagros town to clear the debris that covered the main roads and residential areas.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol initially distributed P22 million worth of relief items to affected areas in the region. —WITH A REPORT FROM MICHAEL JAUCIAN
