City council to declare city under state of calamity
The Sangguniang Panlungsod will have its special session today to declare the city under the state of calamity after heavy rains flooded 35 of the city's 180 barangays affecting 7,795 families. Three houses were totally damaged. No casualty was reported as of yesterday afternoon.
The special session was requested by Mayor Jerry Treñas in order for the state of calamity to be declared immediately so the affected barangays could use their calamity funds for relief operations.
A report submitted by City Social and Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Clair Dignadice showed that the flood mostly affected the district of Jaro with 26 barangays declared under water.
The flooded barangays in Jaro district are: Balantang, Cubay, Tagbac, Quintin Salas, Lanit, Tabuc Suba, Democracia, San Roque, Camalig, Tacas, Ma. Christina, Lopez-Jaena, Cuartero, Ungka, San Isidro, Buntatala, Desamparados, Taytay Zone 2, Benedicto, Simon-Ledesma, San Pedro, Arguelles, Fajardo, Sambag, Kalubihan and MH del Pilar.
In the City Proper, barangays Rizal Estanzuela and Rizal Ibarra were under water. Mandurriao district has two barangays affected by flood namely Taft North and Sta. Rosa. While, Barangays Sooc and Mohon in Arevalo district were also flooded.
As of 2:45 pm yesterday, the flood destroyed one house in Barangay San Pedro, one in Simon Ledesma and another one house in Democracia, all in Jaro. Another house was totally damaged in Rizal-Ibarra, City Proper.
On the other hand, two houses were partially damaged in Barangay Lopez-Jaena, Jaro and another one in Rizal Ibarra, City Proper.
Of the 7,795 affected families, 1,137 families went to the evacuation center for shelter. The 7,795 families covers 38,975 persons or individuals.
The report submitted by the CSWDO will be used as basis by the city council to declare the city under the state of calamity to enable each affected barangay to spend their five percent calamity fund.
Tropical storm Butchoy and later Cosme which entered the Philippine area of responsibility brought heavy rains in Iloilo City and the entire Western Visayas beginning Tuesday night.
In the regional level, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council-Office of Civil Defense (RDCC-OCD) reported that a total of 16,229 persons in Western Visayas were affected by the stormy weather.
The affected persons belonging to 3,153 families are from the municipalities of Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, San Enrique and Kabankalan city of Negros Occidental where there have been occurrence of flooding and flashflood.
Aside from the affected persons, there are also six totally damaged houses and 24 partially damaged houses in Hinobaan town.
There are no more deaths reported except that of Marilyn Oliverio, 15 years old, of Bgy. Guilungan, Cauayan who must have been carried away by the sudden rush of water while crossing a bridge with another girl Melanie Elardes who is still missing as of press time.
In Antique province, Leo Esparagoza is still subject of search and rescue operation.
Esparagoza is believed to have been carried away by water due to the overflow of Ipil Creek in Sitio Lay-on, Bgy. Ipil in Barbaza town.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 6 has also reported road damages from Bacolod to the southern part of Negros Occidental estimated to be around P6 million.
The DPWH has also reported damage on the approach of a bridge in Ajuy town in Iloilo province. But the amount is still being ascertained. (with reports from PNA)