ILOILO – Southwest monsoon-induced storm surges destroyed 15 houses in this province.
Thirteen of the houses were totally wrecked while two were partially damaged.
A storm surge is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low pressure weather systems.
Ten of the 13 flattened houses were in the coastal municipality of Tigbauan – Barangay Buyu-an (six) and Barangay Namocon (four).
The three other completely ruined houses were in the town of San Joaquin – Barangay Tiolas (one) and Barangay Lawigan (two).
Like Tigbauan, San Joaquin was also a coastal town.
According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Jerry Bionat, all members of households that lost their houses survived and temporarily stayed with relatives.
“Big waves and strong winds battered the houses,” said Elvin Secreto, officer-in-charge of San Joaquin’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
Preemptive evacuation saved the lives of the household members, said Tigbauan’s MDRRMO chief Rommel Miciano.
“It was high tide when the storm surge struck,” he added.
The displaced families would be receiving financial assistance from the municipal government of Tigbauan. Miciano said the amount would be determined by the Sangguniang Bayan.
Meanwhile, Bionat urged people, especially those living along coasts, to be constantly prepared for storm surges this rainy season.
“Kon madamol ang panganod, i-expect nga madamol ang ulan. Abnormal na karon kon wala sang habagat pero naga-ulan,” said Bionat./PN
