BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Some 61 houses in several coastal barangays here were damaged due to huge waves spawned by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Carina”.
The city government ordered a preemptive evacuation in at least 10 coastal villages.
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued yesterday an executive order following the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) to move residents out of coastal areas.
While Iloilo City and Western Visayas are not its path, “Carina” is projected to intensify and become a typhoon today and could further worsen the inclement weather in the region.
“During the emergency meeting of the CDRRMC, it was decided that due to many houses already destroyed by strong waves in Barangay Boulevard, a preemptive evacuation will be ordered in areas identified by the CDRRMO as dangerous,” said Treñas.
The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center recorded 61 damaged houses, affecting 560 families from various coastal barangays.
The residents that will be preemptively evacuated are from barangay Boulevard, San Juan, Calumpang, Sto. Nińo Norte, Sto. Nińo Sur, Calaparan, Ortiz, General Hughes, Rizal Ibarra, and Maria Clara.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration advised residents in coastal areas to be wary as the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center recorded High Tides at 1.99 meters.
In the executive order, personnel from the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office of Iloilo City, the police, and the Liga ng mga Barangay of affected communities are directed to assist in Baluarte Elementary School and other identified evacuation centers.
The City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is mandated to prepare food and non-food provisions for the evacuees.
The CSWDO also distributed food packs to the affected families in the evacuation centers./PN
