ILOILO – The provincial government has ditched an earlier plan to declare a province-wide state of calamity.
Not all the 42 towns and component city of Passi were devastated by Christmas typhoon “Ursula”, according to Dr. Jerry Bionat, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) would be asked to put under a state of calamity only those areas which incurred over 30 percent damage in agriculture, said Bionat.
So far, 10 municipalities have submitted partial reports on this, he said. These were the following:
* Concepcion – 1,021 hectares
* Carles – 619 hectares
* Estancia – 443 hectares
* Balasan – 417 hectares
* Batad – 375 hectares
* San Dionisio – 441 hectares
* San Rafael – 363 hectares
* Ajuy – 3,239 hectares
* Barotac Viejo – 608 hectares
* Sara – 1,995 hectares
The reports of these towns covered losses in rice, corns and other crops, according to Bionat.
On the other hand, the typhoon’s damage to Iloilo’s infrastructures was initially estimated at P274 million based on the consolidated reports of four northern municipalities. These were the following:
* Batad – P35 million (road network)
* Balasan – P25 million (road network); P100 million (other structures)
* Estancia – P25 million (other structures)
* San Dionisio – P75 million (road network); P11 million (other structures)
“Ursula” struck northern Iloilo on Dec. 25.
According to Bionat, other northern municipalities were yet to submit their reports.
The damaged road networks included barangay, municipal, provincial, and national roads.
The other damaged structures were barangay halls, covered gyms, daycare centers, classrooms, bridges, and waiting sheds, among others, said Bionat.
As to damaged houses, Bionat said the PDRRMO recorded 9,023 totally damaged and 33,208 partially damaged as of Jan. 4.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. previously said a province-wide state of calamity could be declared.
“Ginahulat pa naton ang total damage report sang mga kabanwahanan. We need data so that we could request properly from the SP,” said Defensor.
A declaration of a state of calamity would allow the provincial government to use five percent of its calamity fund.
The northern Panay Island provinces of Aklan and Capiz already declared a state of calamity.
In Iloilo, the Sangguniang Bayan of Balasan, Carles, Batad, and Concepcion placed their respective municipalities under a state of calamity.
The northern part of Western Visayas was under typhoon signal No. 3 from the night of Dec. 24 to the afternoon of Dec. 25. “Ursula” pummelled it with heavy rains that resulted to flashfloods and strong winds that blew away houses and toppled electric posts and trees.
Defensor expressed concern over a possible food shortage in northern Iloilo.
“‘Kon wala sang ani may gutom kita kag kinahanglan mabulig kita sa dason nga planting season,” he said./PN
