ANTIQUE – Damage to the agriculture sector caused by the southwest monsoon or habagat in this province was pegged at P31,389,098 as of Tuesday, September 17.
Data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that the damage covers 76.29 hectares of rice (totally damaged) and 806.41 hectares more were partially damaged due to floods and strong winds spawned by habagat from September 12 to September 17.
The PDRRMO also recorded P240,000 in damage to fisheries sector. Among those affected were catfish and milkfish stock, motorized boat, and non-motorized fiberglass boats.
Additionally, damage to infrastructures was logged in the municipalities of Culasi, Patnongon, and San Jose de Buenavista:
* Culasi sea wall – P75,000,000 worth of damage;
* Barangay Igbarawan Road in Patnongon – P200,000 worth of damage; and
* San Jose de Buenavista essential facilities – P2,292,161 worth of damage.
Meanwhile, 24 houses were totally damaged and 140 more were partially damaged.
Also, a total of 35,519 families composed of 118,810 persons were affected in the province. Of the number, 2,954 families or 9,523 persons were still in various evacuation centers, 2,403 families or 5,900 persons were outside the evacuation centers, and the remaining families have returned home as of this writing.
The PDRRMO also announced that the national road in Barangay Caromangay, Hamtic town is now passable to four-wheeled vehicles but drivers are advised to exercise extra caution.
“Due to the presence of cracks on the road, heavy-loaded trucks and cargo trucks are advised to use the Anini-y road as an alternative route to San Joaquin and vice versa. This precaution is recommended to ensure safety and prevent potential damage to both vehicles and road,” read part of the provincial government’s advisory.
For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – Antique, in its advisory released at 5 a.m. yesterday, September 18, said trips for small sea crafts of 250 gross tonnage and below were cancelled due to gale-force winds brought by Tropical Storm Helen (Pulasan) in the following routes:
* Barangay Poblacion to Mararison Island, Culasi and vice versa
* Libertad Port, Libertad/Lipata Port, Culasi to RJL Port, Caluya and vice versa
* RJL Port, Caluya to Pinagpala Port, Semirara and vice versa
* Pinagpala Port, Semirara to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro and vice versa
Furthermore, PCG advised fisherfolk and coastal communities to avoid venturing out into the sea or conduct any sea-related activities and larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves./PN
