City declared under the state of calamity
A family in Brgy. Taft North, Mandurriao whose house was
washed out by flood temporarily stay on the bridge.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday declared the city under the state of calamity after 135 of the city's barangays are devastated by typhoon Frank. The number of affected families continue to rise based the record of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). The death toll increased to 17.
The declaration was made in yesterday's special session called by members of the city council. The declaration was agreed upon after Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon sponsored a resolution declaring the city under the state of the calamity. The resolution was unanimously approved. All of the members of the legislative body are present except for OIC Mayor Jed Mabilog. He was with Vice President Noli De Castro. Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo assumed as the presiding officer.
The declaration gave the city an authority to spend five percent of their calamity fund. Yesterday, the council is considering of purchasing rescue equipment such as rubber boat or jet ski. Iloilo City has only one rubber boat.
As of 12 noon, the number of affected families reached to 39,322 with 198,545 affected persons. The report provided by Acting City Social Welfare and Development Officer Alfredo Villanueva to the city council showed that Jaro district has the most number of affected barangays caused by flash floods.
Jaro I has 20 affected barangays with 5,603 affected families and 30,715 affected persons. It is also in Jaro I where a considerable number of casualties are registered. In Jaro I, there are 13 deaths with two injuries.
The affected barangays in Jaro I are Our Lady of Lourdes, Taytay Zone II, Simon Ledesma, Calubihan, Cuartero, San Vicente, Fajardo, San Pedro, Luna, Montinola, MH. Del Pilar, Quintin Salas, Balantang, Sambag and Desamparados. It was not immediately known if the number of barangays under Jaro I increased late Monday afternoon.
In Jaro II, there are 18 barangays affected with 8,958 affected families and 44,790 affected persons. Jaro II comprises the barangays of Lanit, M. V. Hechanova, Lopez-Jaena, Buntatala, Cubay, Ungka, Buhang, Ma. Christina, San Roque and Democracia.
The district of Lapaz come second with the most number of affected barangays at 29. The flash flood affected 10,366 families and 51,065 persons. It registered one death.
Surprisingly, the district of Molo also registered big number of affected barangays with 26. The typhoon affected 4,310 families and 21,550 persons and two registered deaths. City Proper has 17 affected barangays with 2,502 affected families and 13,955 persons. One person was reported injured in the City Proper.
Mandurriao has 15 affected barangays with 4,792 affected families and 23,960 persons. There is also one registered death in Mandurriao. Arevalo has 10 affected barangays with 2,791 affected families and 13,955 affected persons.
In an interview, Villanueva said they are waiting for the National Food Authority (NFA) to release the 400 sacks of rice they purchased for the immediate disposal for the affected families. They are also opting for the assistance of different business groups in the city to donate goods for the affected families. The CSWDO has already released 500 cartoons of noodles and sardines for the families especially those who sought shelter in the different evacuation sites.