SAN JOSE, Antique – People in this province have expressed their gratitude through a mass for the zero casualty in the aftermath of Typhoon “Ursula.”
Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, who declared the opening of the three-day Binirayan Festival after the mass on Thursday, said the province was thankful that no one died from the typhoon, which battered the locality on Dec. 25.
“We are thankful for the graces that the province had received,” Cadiao said, adding they were also grateful Malandog, now a barangay in Hamtic, Antique – was considered to be the first Malay settlement in the country.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday said there was no reported fatality from “Ursula,” which affected several barangays in the northern towns, she added.
“The NDRRMC is glad to note that there is no reported death in the province because of the typhoon,” Cadiao said.
However, she added the towns of Libertad, Pandan and Caluya were severely hit by the typhoon.
Berlyn Tampuhan, officer of the Libertad Municipal Social Welfare and Development, said around 2,113 individuals from 478 families have evacuated during the height of the typhoon while there were about 1,270 partially and totally damaged houses.
The municipal DRRMC headed by Libertad mayor Mary Jean Te is set to pass a resolution declaring a state of calamity after they have consolidated all their damage reports.
Meanwhile, the province started various activities related to the Binirayan Festival on Thursday, including the opening of the Pasundayag or trade fair and the reenactment of the Malay settlement through a musical dance performance by students from the Department of Education Division of Antique at the Malandog Fishport here.
Binirayan Festival director Dante Beriong said the three-day highlight of the festivity will be simple but with “historical value.”
“The reenactment is the heart and soul of the festival,” he added.
The thanksgiving mass was celebrated by Antique Roman Catholic Bishop Marvyn Maceda and Fr. Fortunato Abiera at the Evelio Javier Freedom Park here.(With a report from PNA/PN)
