By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
LAOAG CITY—Heavy rains
brought about by severe tropical storm “Ineng” [international name Bailu] left
two deaths and over PHP1.1 billion worth damages, the Provincial Risk Reduction
and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported on August 26, 2019.
Based on its latest situation
report, the PDRRMC said the biggest damage was recorded on infrastructure particularly
on unfinished construction of national roads and bridges including buildings at
PHP727.5 million.
At the height of the typhoon
on August 24, 2019, Ilocos Norte residents particularly in Laoag, Bacarra,
Pasuquin, Burgos and Vintar experienced one of the worst flooding caused by
unusual heavy downpour of around 50 millimeters volume of water for 16 hours,
killing 17-year-old Pauleen Joy Corpuz in a landslide at Sta. Catalina in
Pasuquin, and drowning of Ricky Manglallan, 37, of Brgy. Salet, this city.
The PDRRMRC reported that Ms. Corpuz died due to a landslide that occurred
at around 3:20 am inside their house on August 24, 2019. Two others, identified
as Princess Shalane Trumpo,11 and John Lloyd Trumpo, 9, were also injured and
they are now recovering at a hospital.
Mr. Manglallan, on the other hand, drowned on the morning of August 24,
2019 while trying to help in the rescue operations that flooded low lying areas
in this city.
Hundreds of farm animals were
also drowned in floodwaters with an estimate worth of over PHP7.5 million.
Submerged rice fields and other high value crops in some areas of the province
reached an estimated damage of more than PHP30.3 million, PHP 6.3 million in
fisheries, and PHP7.5 million livestock and agri-infrastructure PHP122.6
million.
The PDRRMC also reported 20
totally damaged houses, 46 partially damaged, and 9,582 flooded.
Since August 24, 2019, Ilocos
Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led the inspection of damages and
distribution of relief goods to the 9,873 affected families, or 41,618 persons,
in the entire province.
“We have enough relief packs,
which is our main focus. We also have to clear the roads, and finally,
prioritize our agriculture sector,” Mr. Manotoc said in an interview on August
25, 2019.
On August 26, 2019, Senators
Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go and
Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar arrived at the Laoag
International Airport to help in the relief operations in Metro Gabu, Laoag
City.
In his speech, Mr. Dar
assured affected farmers the DA will provide P18.1 million worth of corn,
veggies and hybrid seeds so they could cope from their losses.
“We are ready to provide
emergency financial assistance worth PHP25,000 to each affected farmer with
zero-interest and payable up to three years,” he said while visiting Metro
Gabu, one of the hard-hit coastal barangays in the city.
State of calamity
In a special session held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on the
afternoon of August 24, 2019, members of the provincial board unanimously
approved a resolution declaring the province under a “state of calamity.”
For most Ilocos Norte residents, the nonstop rains that caused severe
floods in most areas of the province caught them by surprised, affecting nearly
110 barangays including 4,595 families or more than 18,000 individuals.
“For 47 years of staying here at Castro Avenue, it’s only now that our
house was flooded,” said Laoag resident Bella Navarro in her Facebook post on
Saturday as she took photos of their kitchen in knee-deep water.
Provincial roads along Batac-Rayuray, Vintar-Tamdagan and Vintar-Pallas
which were underwater on Saturday but are now passable.
Engineer Cynthia Iglesias, head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical
and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) at the Laoag International
Airport said in an interview on August 25, 2019 that the volume of water of 50
millimeters per hour which was recorded on August 24, 2019 was “beyond normal”.
“If our rivers and waterways are okay, we could have lessened the impact of
flooding,” she explained saying that for the month of August to September, it
is expected to have beyond normal rainfall.
Ms. Iglesias reminded the public to take precautionary measures and ensure
the rivers and waterways are clean and they are not clogged with debris.
Rescue and relief operations
Marcel Tabije Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
officer said that “the Provincial Government is helping our local government
units (LGU) by lending our rescue equipment and overseeing rescue operations.”
A total of 1, 750 relief
packs containing rice and canned goods have already been stored in seven sites
through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO),
concentrating on northern towns as they are expected to be the hardest-hit by
the tropical storm.
PSWDO head Lilian Rin also
reminded residents of the “lola watch,” urging neighbors and families to look
out for vulnerable members of their communities.
“Ipalpalagipko man laeng kadagiti addaan iti senior citizens,
persons with disabilities, kadagiti inna
nga agdadagsen ken addaan ti annak a babassit – kitaentayo kadi nga
salwadantayo dagiti nadakamat, nga no makita tayo ng agdakes ti panawen ket
mapantayo kadagiti higher ground.”
She added, “I-take care tayo kadagiti nadakamat a sektor, tapno iti kasta ket saanda nga
maapektaran directly kadagiti saan a
nasayaat nga ibuangay daytoy bagyo nga paspasangasaentayo.”
Several rescue vehicles were
also stationed at the Provincial Capitol, including one ambulance, three
payloaders, one backhoe, and two rubber boats.
Even with relief and rescue
apparatus prepared, Mr. Manotoc encouraged residents to stay home and avoid
going out if necessary. Those living in areas identified to be highly or very
highly susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides are advised to take
precautionary measures.
“We have been focused on our
people as we deliver food packs to those most in need. We are also delivering
medicines, different agricultural inputs, and construction materials. Our
electricity is back, our water service has returned, all national roads are now
passable and most provincial roads as well,” Mr. Manotoc declared in a press
briefing on August 26, 2019.
He further commended the
proactive work of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and
Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC) composed of the Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), Provincial
Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Sustainable Development
Center (SDC), Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), Provincial Veterinary Office
(PVet), and the Provincial Health Office (PHO.)
“I would like to thank our
department heads, our armed personnel, and national government agencies sa tulong po ninyo. We cannot surmount
this alone. “To those who have been working tirelessly, you are the heroes of
this calamity,” Manotoc exclaimed.
Outside assistance
The provincial government also continues to seek help from
national government agencies and charitable groups to supply relief packs to
affected residents.
“Kailangan po talagang
patuloy na magbigay ng food packs. Hindi
lang po para sa ‘Ineng’ pero para in the future may stock pa
rin tayo,” the governor explained.
Moreover, representatives
from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), National Food Authority (NFA),
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), National Irrigation Administration (NIA)
were present to amplify relief operations.
“We appreciate your help,
especially the personal appearance of our Senators and our department
secretaries,” Mr. Manotoc said.
Farmers to receive calamity assistance
With PHP167 million worth of damages in agriculture alone, DA
Secretary Dar assured the Ilocano farming communities support from the
department.
“We have brought here inbred
and hybrid rice seeds, corn seeds, including vegetable seeds worth more than
PHP18 million. We have ruled out to provide loan assistance to our farmers
worth PHP25,000 per hectare, payable within three years with zero interest,”
Mr. Dar mentioned.
DA also coordinated with the
NFA in buying “wet” and “dry” palay
seeds to help farmers recover from their losses.
“The DA was one of the first
to respond. Nagpapasalamat po kami
for your continued assistance,” Mr. Manotoc said to express his gratitude.
Over 5,000 food packs distributed
In coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) and the Philippines Army who provided transportation and manpower, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development headed by Secretary Rolando D.
Bautista brought to Ilocos Norte 5,000 food packs for the victims of “Ineng.”
“There are more trucks
carrying food packs and we are pushing them here in Laoag.” Secretary Bautista
said.
DSWD also offers financial
assistance to those residents whose houses were “partially” or “totally”
damaged, as well as financial compensation for the families of the casualties
and to those who were injured.
“Gusto po naming mapadali ang pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga nasalanta,”
he ended.
Relief to family of
victims
At 2 am of August 26, 2019, Mr. Manotoc personally visited
the wake of Ms. Corpuz, the 17-year-old victim of the landslide at Brgy. Surong
in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
Mr. Manotoc personally handed cash assistance to the grieving
family as augmentation for the funeral expenses as part of additional relief
packages from the provincial government.
Extending her gratefulness
for the support of the to Mr. Manotoc and the Ilocos Norte Government, Eva
Gamboa, Ms. Corpuz’s mother, said: “Ag-thank
thank you kami ta addada governor a mangtultulong a marigrigat. Dikami
makasupsupali ti tulong nga inpaayda kadakami.”
According to Ms. Gamboa, her
daughter was with relatives at around 3 am of August 24, 2019 when an
unexpected landslide occurred. Rescue volunteers recovered her body by 9
am.
Ms. Corpuz is the fourth
child among nine siblings in the family. She was a Grade 11 student at Ilocos
Norte Agricultural College (INAC) in Pasuquin.
Recounting the promise of her
daughter, Ms. Gamboa shared, “Aggraduarnak
ton tawen nga umayen inangko. Tulungan kanto a mangpabasa kadagita adingko a
babassiten.”
Mr. Manglan-lan, who was
carried by the floodwaters while helping his neighbors evacuate, is another
“Ineng” casualty.
“My deepest condolences to
the families of the two casualties. I was with them this morning and we will
continue to lend our support,” Mr. Manotoc shared.
Hopeful to deliver relief
operations as soon as possible to the hardest-hit barangays, Mr. Manotoc
conducted series of relief distributions and ocular inspections until wee hours
in the municipalities of Bangui, Vintar, Paoay, and Laoag City.
“Rest assured that the
provincial government and I are here to help you kahit anong mangyari. We are here to ease the effects of this
natural calamity.” (With reports from PGIN-CMO)
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