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[av_heading heading=’‘Quick response averted disaster’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The quick action of local government units (LGUs) helped prevent tropical storm “Urduja” from becoming a disaster in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We laud their quick response. The preemptive evacuations really helped,” said Regional Director Rebecca Geamala.
A total of 3,524 individuals from 817 families were displaced by torrential rains and floods when “Urduja” hit the northern part of Western Visayas on its way to Palawan on Saturday and Sunday.
According to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) yesterday afternoon, these affected families were in the provinces of Iloilo (203), Capiz (298) and Aklan (316).
Those in Capiz started returning to their respective houses yesterday morning, the RDRRMC reported.
Today, “Urduja” is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility for the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
“The first responders are still the LGUs. This time, we are glad that they are very responsive, including in their use of resources to provide for the needs of evacuees,” said Geamala.
Flooding was reported in 176 barangays in Iloilo, 107 in Capiz, 56 in Aklan, and 13 in Antique.
The affected towns were Numancia, Kalibo, Malinao, Malay, Buruanga, Buruanga, Ibajay, and Nabas in Aklan; Cuartero, Panay, Tapaz, Sigma, Mambusao, Panitan, Dumalag, Dao, Maayon, and Pontevedra and Roxas City in Capiz; Balasan, Batad and San Rafael in Iloilo; and Pandan, Belison, Culasi, and Laua-an in Antique.
In Aklan, the town of Buruanga had no electricity since 4:30 a.m. yesterday.
DSWD Region 6 released 227 food packs to evacuees and passengers stranded in seaports. Each food pack cost P360 and contained six kilos of rice and 10 cans of sardines.
Geamala said the food packs were “pre-positioned” to ensure their easy access.
“We have enough stocks….18,000 food packs ready for dispatch,” she said. (With a report from May Rago-Castillo, DSWD-6)/PN
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