ILOILO — More than P13.5 million worth of fishing boats and coastal homes were damaged in the municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo after strong waves and winds battered several island and coastal barangays over the weekend, dealing a heavy blow to the town’s fishing-dependent communities.
Data from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) showed that the bulk of the losses came from the destruction of fishing boats, with a total of 216 vessels affected. Of these, 44 were totally damaged while 172 were partially damaged.
Residential properties were also hit, with 30 houses sustaining damage due to powerful winds and large waves, bringing total losses to an estimated P13.5 million.
Most of the damaged fishing boats and houses were recorded in barangays Igbon and Polopiña, while damage to seawalls and port structures was also reported in barangays Maliog-liog and Tambaliza, estimated at around P820,000.
John Bryan Gabayeron, head of the MDRRMO-Concepcion, said assistance for affected fishermen is now being processed, particularly for insurance claims covering damaged fishing boats.
At the provincial level, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has begun extending support to affected residents following a request from Concepcion Mayor Milliard Villanueva.
PDRRMO spokesperson Mia Resano said the provincial government has already allocated rice and food packs for affected fishermen and their families. She added that cash assistance is also being prepared, subject to validation by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to determine the extent of damage suffered by each household./PN
