Water rationing on, full power to take at least 3 weeks in Iloilo'
Martha Suarez, chief nurse of Federico Roman Tirador
Sr. Memorial Hospital in Janiuay, Iloilo, tries to recover
whatever that they could still use after the hospital was
submerged in six-feet deep water last Saturday.
Search and rescue operations continue alongside relief efforts to the survivors on what stands as the worst calamity to hit Iloilo.
As of 10 a.m. yesterday, 38 out of Iloilo's 42 towns and one component city reported of heavy "rapid damages." The dead was officially recorded at 97 while the missing was 122.
The town of Janiuay recorded the highest in fatalities with 28 confirmed deaths and 25 still missing. The town of Tigbauan is next with 13 confirmed deaths including an entire family of eight who all drowned when trapped inside the family hut. The youngest fatality was estimated to be at least four months old.
In an emergency session called by Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Capitol chiefs were called to submit official tally of damage, fatalities and evacuees needing of government support.
Measures were ensured by the Provincial Board in order for the calamity fund to be handled rightly. This, the vice governor stressed, is needed so the victims will not fall yet double victims to corruption in government.
Total affected persons reached 353,116 with the figure still expected to increase within 24 hours. The province has about 1.4 million in population. Out of 1,721 barangays or villages, 639 are officially noted to have been heavily affected with most areas still suffering from floodwaters at least three feet deep.
Government infrastructure works reported of major bridges, roads and hospitals heavily damaged as well.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered four bridges in Lambunao town that had damaged approaches with the Maribong Bridge rendered not passable. Cabatuan's Tigum and Imelda bridges also had damaged approaches while Centennial Bridge in Alimodian totally collapsed alongside Gines-Malambay Bridge. The river control in the Poblacion was also washed-out by raging floodwaters while the bridge linking the town to Maasin suffered a damaged approach.
In Tubungan, Binanuaan Bridge also collapsed and the same with Camanggahan Bridge in Guimbal. Parara Bridge here also had a damaged approached and Santa Barbara's Buyo Bridge.
The damages were confirmed by Provincial Engineer Gracianito Lucero.
Meantime, water rationing will be effected this week with major water supply sources of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) also incurring heavy damage. An MIWD source said that distribution of potable water for Iloilo City consumers will have to be rationed if only to ensure steady though limited supply in the next days.
Power throughout Iloilo province is also expected to take at least three weeks to be restored. All three electric cooperatives do not have enough manpower to take care of the damages particularly in areas where the village was totally submerged.