Evacuation ordered, rescue up as Milenyo hits Antique, Iloilo
Hundreds of families in low-lying and coastal barangays throughout Iloilo City were evacuated to higher ground yesterday as alert level in the area remained at its highest. Rescue groups both from the government and private volunteer groups also worked overnight as calls poured in from distressed residents with efforts concentrated in Jaro District.
Roads linking the city to and from central Iloilo and towards northern Iloilo were rendered impassable as commuters were rerouted to the coastal road.
Late Wednesday evening police and barangay officials in the affected districts flagged down motorists to issue warning on the rising floodwaters in the main highways.
With Iloilo under storm signal number 1, classes were suspended anew in the entire city and province of Iloilo particularly in elementary level and majority of high schools, both private and government institutions. Central Philippine University (CPU) located in Jaro District was hardest-hit with the flash floods and rising waters that got school officials to declare yesterday as no-school up to College level.
Some classes, however, resumed in the afternoon after the Philippine Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pag-asa) lifted the storm signal in Iloilo in its 11 a.m. weather bulletin.
Mayor Jerry Treñas made early morning rounds in Jaro, Molo, Arevalo, Lapaz and Mandurriao districts. When reached by radio reporters, Treñas said emergency relief services are in place even as he appealed to affected residents to heed government’s call for voluntary evacuation and remain in temporary shelters until the clearance is given for them to return to their homes.
Meanwhile, rescue and relief efforts were intensified and successfully implemented in a small village of Barangay San Antonio, Barbasa, Province of Antique. At least eighty individuals were rescued as Sitio Kamonsilan residents woke up Wednesday to raging floodwaters that eventually isolated the area from the mainland.
Residents reported of heavy rains for four days which resulted to the overflowing of Dalanas River. Sitio Kamonsilan is located near the bank of the river.
Airforce and Army officials attempted to send helicopters to rescue residents trapped in the area Wednesday afternoon but were not able to do so due to poor visibility.
Actual rescue operations took place early Thursday morning when the water from Dalanas River receded.
Children, the elderly and women were among the first to be rescued by elements from the Philippine Army's 47th Infantry Battalion based in Tapaz, Capiz and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) of the province of Antique. PDCC chair Broderick Train personally supervised the rescue operation. RMN-DYRI Iloilo provided the full account of the operations in a marathon broadcast with direct reports from the scene.
Barbaza Mayor Jose Maghari said the rescued families were placed at the temporary evacuation center in town's covered gym.
Regan Arlos, RMN 774 reporter gathered from the rescued locals that the incident was to be the first in 30 years.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) initially provided the evacuees with relief food and clothings.
Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez said the Province will be placed under a state of calamity.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported one person missing in yesterday's onslaught of typhoon Milenyo. The victim identified as Richard Capinianes, Jr., 19, of Brgy. Ungka I, Pavia, Iloilo reportedly drowned Wednesday evening while crossing the Aganan River.
OCD also reported several roads in Antique to have been damaged due to heavy rains.