ANTIQUE – One fatality was recorded while damage to agriculture sector was initially estimated at P18 million due to the southwest monsoon, or habagat, in this province.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) confirmed yesterday morning, September 15, that the 67-year-old Rogelio Estocado, a resident of Barangay Dumrog, Pandan town, was found dead on Saturday, September 14, in the said village.
PDRRMO head Broderick Train said Estocado was on his way home with his carabao on Thursday night, September 12, when the flood waters suddenly rose and swept him away.
“Nag-report ang MDRRMO Pandan nga may missing tungod nga isa nila ka pumoluyo nagtinguha sang gab-i sang September 12 nga balikan ang karbaw garing sa process na-anod sang mataas nga tubig kag nakita kahapon ang cadaver,” Train said in an interview with Panay News yesterday.
The PDRRMO also reported that around P18 million worth of agricultural crops were affected and it is expected to further increase with the ongoing assessment of the province’s 18 local government units (LGUs).
Additionally, floods and storm surge destroyed three houses and damaged 12 others.
Train added that that 4,589 families or 16,085 persons were displaced.
“Subong nga adlaw, naglab-ot na sa 181 barangays affected from 17 municipalities nga nagalab-ot sa 4,589 families or 16,085 persons. Ang iban sini diri sa evacuation centers kag ang iban outside evacuation centers nga nag-stay anay sa ila relatives,” he said.
These 17 affected municipalities that have already submitted their reports of evacuees were San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Anini-y, Sebaste, Tibiao, Culasi, Barbaza, San Remigio, Valderrama, Pandan, Bugasong, Patnongon, Tobias Fornier, Sibalom, Libertad, and Belison.
The local government of Caluya has yet to submit their number of evacuees as of yesterday.
As of this writing, the PDRRMO chief also assured that all roads and bridges in the province were passable after the inspection of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) -Antique on Saturday, Septmber 14.
Antique started experiencing heavy rains and floods due to habagat on September 12.
This also led to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to issue gale warning resulting to the suspension of sea trips since September 14 until yesterday.
Based on the travel advisory issued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Antique, trips via small sea crafts of 250 gt and below in the following ports listed below were cancelled:
* Barangay Poblacion en route to Mararison Island, Culasi, Antique and vice versa
* Libertad Port, Libertad, Antique/ Lipata Port, Culasi, Antique to RJL Port, Caluya, Antique and vice versa
* RJL Port, Caluya, Antique to Pinagpala Port, Semirara Port, Antique and vice versa
* Pinagpala Port, Semirara, Antique to San Jose Port, San Lose, Occidental Mindoro and vice versa
“Moreover, all fisherfolk and coastal communities are advised not to venture out into the sea and withhold from conducting any sea related activities while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in order to prevent any untoward incident,” read part of the advisory of PCG-Antique headed by commander Val Ernie Daitao.
The PDRRMO was still waiting for the consolidated reports from 18 LGUs to check if it could meet the criteria for the declaration of a state of calamity.
“Gina-consolidate naton ang mga report kay possible ingkaso nga ma-meet naton ang mga criteria sa declaration, puede man maka-declare ang province sang state of calamity para mabuligan kag magamit naton ang reserved fund para sa paghatag dugang nga ayuda sa katawhan nga naapektohan para maka-recover dayon,” added Train./PN
