ANTIQUE – The number of houses damaged by the effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat in this province has climbed to 77 as of yesterday morning, September 16.
Of the number, 21 were totally damaged and 56 were partially damaged due to flooding and storm surges in the municipalities of Barbaza, Bugasong, Hamtic, Laua-an, Patnongon, San Jose, Sebaste, Sibalom, and Tobias Fornier, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
Broderick Train, head of the PDRRMO, added that the Hamtic-Tiolas, San Joaquin road was impassable to four-wheel vehicles following the soil erosion in Sitio Maalan, Barangay Caromangay, Hamtic town.
Motorists were advised to take a detour at the San Joaquin-Anini-y coastal road.
“Ang Hamtic-Iloilo road dira sa bukid may ara sang soil erosion kag may mga cracks. Possible nga basi maguba ang dalan so dya gin-recommend sang Department of Public Works and Highways nga mag-agi sa Anini-y-Iloilo road para wala sablag sa pagbiyahe,” Train told Panay News yesterday morning.
As of this writing, PDRRMO data showed that 2,671 families or 8,671 individuals remained at various evacuation centers.
One fatality was also recorded – the 67-year-old Rogelio Estocado of Barangay Dumrog, Pandan town who was swept away by flood waters – while damage to agriculture sector was still at around P18 million.
Additionally, due to the continuous effect of weather disturbance, the PDRRMO yesterday issued the following advisory: “In reference to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 1 (Tropical Depression Gener), the PDRRMO would like to inform and advise the public to limit exposure to high-risk areas due to existing hazards such as wind waves, flash flood, and soil subsidence. Communities living near coastal areas are advised to actively take precautionary measures for possible occurrence of wind waves or daluyong.”
PAGASA has monitored two more storms – Tropical Depression (TD) Gener inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and TD Pulasan outside PAR – which will likely enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring heavy to intense rain all over the province.
For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard-Antique said trips via small sea crafts of 250 GT and below were still cancelled in all major sea ports in the province as of yesterday.
All fisherfolk and residents living near coastal and river banks were advised not to venture out into the sea/river and withhold from conducting any sea related activities such as fire woods picking and swimming while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in order to prevent any untoward incident. (With a report from Antique News Updates)/PN
