Monsoon rains leave millions worth of damages in Western Visayas

The heavy monsoon rains that occurred last July 26 left a trail of destruction reaching P25.65 million in damages, one dead and missing in the region, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council VI (RDCC VI) reported.

A total of 21,813 families with 114,515 persons were also reportedly affected by the heavy downpour.  

The consolidated report of the RDCC VI dated August 3 showed that of the estimated P25.65 million damages, P13.75 million was incurred in the region's infrastructure while the remaining P11.9 million in agriculture.

The province of Negros Occidental has the most damage in infrastructure amounting to P10.6 million. This is followed by province of Antique with P2.25 million and Iloilo City with P900,000.

It was reported that the rechanelling projects (protection dike along Sibalom-Mao-it and Tipuluan Rivers) in Brgy. Bontol, Sibalom was partially damaged totaling to P250,000 while the same project in Brgy. Pampang, Sibalom was totally damaged totaling to P2 million.

As of the latest report of RDCC VI, only the province of Negros Occidental reported a total damage of P11.9 million in its agriculture.

Based on the same report Iloilo City has the most barangays affected with 97, followed by Negros Occidental 39, Antique 6 and Guimaras and Bacolod City with 4 each.

The report also showed that most of the barangays affected were submerged in floodwaters except for Sitio Singcalang, Brgy. Balcon Melliza, Jordan, Guimaras where a landslide occurred.

In Iloilo City, the City Proper and Lapaz districts have the most affected barangays with 20 each; Mandurriao, 16; Jaro and Molo, 15 each; and Arevalo with 11. Due to this heavy flooding, the Iloilo City government placed the city under a state of calamity.

The two casualties recorded in the RDCC VI report were a 65 year old Cristeta Lastimosa of Sitio Bagatnan, Brgy. Poblacion, Jordan, Guimaras who got drowned and died and Fidel Juayno of Brgy. Guinbangga-an, Laua-an, Antique who was reported missing after he was carried away by strong current of water while crossing Paliwan River at Brgy. Igkican, Laua-an, Antique at around 6:00 a.m. of July 27.

Necessary assistance have already been extended by concerned provincial and city disaster coordinating councils, said Office of Civil Defense VI (OCD VI) Asst. Regional Director Eligio Calaor. (PIA 6)