BY GLENDA TAYONA, IME SORNITO and DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
ILOILO – Torrential rains unleashed by Tropical Depression “Agaton” on Monday caused massive flooding that displaced nearly 12,000 individuals in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
As of 3:30 p.m. yesterday, already 2,575 families composed of 11,365 individuals in 37 barangays of the three provinces left their homes for safer grounds, according to Judith Barredo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6’s Disaster Response Management Division.
Of these displaced families, 244 (or 1,145 individuals) temporarily sought shelter in 22 evacuation centers (schools, barangay halls, covered gyms). The rest stayed with relatives.
Barredo said they have so far received reports from the municipalities of Maayon and President Roxas in Capiz, Banate in Iloilo and EB Magalona and Silay City in Negros Occidental.
For the displaced, DSWD-6 has 23,053 standby family food packs worth P11.2 million. Of these, 7,000 are already prepositioned in different areas while 16,053 are at its regional warehouse.
The regional office also has non-food items such as sleeping kits, family kits, kitchen kits, tents, and blankets.
“We will augment the resources of local government units in responding to the situation. While the LGUs remain at the forefront of disaster response, we are ready na tulungan sila,” said DSWD-6 director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.
SEARCH AND RESCUE IN ILOILO
As of this writing, search and rescue operations were ongoing in northern Iloilo, particularly in the towns of Sara, Ajuy and Lemery where many families were trapped in their homes by rising floodwaters.
The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) was yet to release as of this writing a report regarding the number of affected families and barangays in northern Iloilo, and even on the damage to agriculture, fishery, livelihood and houses. But aside from Sara, Ajuy and Lemery, it also received information of flooding in Concepcion, Balasan, Banate, San Dionisio, San Enrique, and Pototan.
Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered the deployment of provincial government dump trucks and rubber boats.
He asked the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Air Force to do the same.
According to PDRRMO chief Jerry Bionat, rains have been incessant since Sunday night, causing rivers to overflow and rice fields and low-laying areas to get flooded.
On the other hand, the Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas reported over 200 passengers as well as over a hundred rolling cargoes stranded in various seaports in Negros Occidental.
For its part, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6, according to information officer Cindy Ferrer, received information about a casualty in San Lorenzo, Guimaras. But the office would wait for the official report and confirmation from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Guimaras.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN EVACUATION CENTERS
Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health protocols in evacuation centers must be observed, according to Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 assistant regional director Dr. Ma Sophia Pulmones, citing DOH Memo 2020-0218 or the interim guidelines in the prevention control of COVID-19 during disaster evacuation and displacement.
This memorandum order, Pulmones said had long been disseminated to local government units to ensure that the minimum public health standard against COVID-19 are observed in evacuation centers.
Pulmones stressed the importance of physical distancing, frequent hand-washing as well as the use of personal protective equipment.
Also, there must be a separate area for high-risk individuals such as the elderly, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women, and infants and children, she added.
Evacuees who manifest signs and symptoms of COVID-19 must also be isolated, according to Pulmones.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
WORK, CLASSES IN NEGOCC SUSPENDED
Work in government offices as well as classes were suspended yesterday morning in Negros Occidental.
Among the local government units that issued such order were the cities of Talisay, Cadiz, Victorias, Silay, and the town of E.B. Magalona.
In San Carlos City and the town of Toboso, mayors Renato Gustilo and Richard Jaojoco respectively ordered a suspension of classes but government offices continued to function throughout the day.
In Talisay City, Mayor Neil Lizares said they continued to receive calls for help in the flood-hit barangays Dos Hermanas, Zone 12A, Zones 11, 8 and 14B.
In Victorias City, the Malihao River exceeded the 12-foot spilling level at around 2:55 p.m. with floodwaters rising to 14 feet and five inches.
The floodwaters also entered the Victorias Emergency Clinic, prompting all medical staff to transfer operations.
Residents in need of medical attention were told to proceed to the Victorias City Health Office instead./PN
