ILOILO City – Several towns particularly in the northern part of Western Visayas got flooded, affecting hundreds of families, due to the Tropical Storm “Paeng”.
Among these towns – and cities – were Libacao, Balete, Kalibo, Madalag, Numancia, and Ibajay in Aklan; Tapaz, Mambusao, Jamindan, Dumalag , and Dao in Capiz; and some towns and cities in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
But there could be more. Only the province of Negros Occidental has submitted a situationer report, data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed.
A total of 67 families or 211 persons in Negros were affected due to flooding.
Also, four road sections, particularly in San Carlos City, became impassable.
The Provincial DRRMO of Negros Occidental also reported seven houses damaged or totally washed out by flashflood in Sipalay City.
Several towns and cities in the region suspended classes and work due to heavy rains and flooding brought by “Paeng”.
These included La Castellana, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, and the cities of Bago and San Carlos in Negros Occidental; and Dumalag, Cuartero, Dao, Jamindan, Roxas City, Tapaz, Ivisan, Panitan, Maayon, Pontevedra, Mambusao, Dumarao, and Sigma in Capiz.
Based on RDRRMC’s Memorandum No. 100 regarding the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Protocol in Western Visayas in connection with Tropical Storm “Paeng,” the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental were on Charlie protocol or the highest EPR since they are identified as high-risk for possible impacts of the said weather disturbance.
Meanwhile, the province of Guimaras and highly-urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod are on standby protocol as they are identified as low-risk.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 prepositioned family food packs for the affected families.
The regional office, as of yesterday, had 50,066 family food packs (FFPs) on standby.
So far, 337 displaced families in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and 200 in Tapaz, Capiz have received FFPs.
DSWD-6 is waiting for other reports regarding evacuees from other local government units in the region for more relief operation./PN
