POINTBLANK
Typhoon Frank: An unforgettable disaster
This Sunday, June 21, is the first anniversary of one of the most unforgettable typhoons that hit the Western Visayas region, the typhoon Frank. Unforgettable because it caused so much devastation. Several areas in the provinces of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental were washed out by the deluge of floodwaters coming from the mountains. Lives and properties were lost during that fateful day. For sure, those who had close encounter with the flood can still vividly recall their experience.
A day before the tragedy, people had no inkling of what will happen although the weather was bad during the time. We in the Press Photographers of the Philippines-Iloilo Chapter were even in Panitan, Capiz as we were supposed to take our oath before Pres. Arroyo who was scheduled to arrive there to launch the National Transmission Corporation's interconnection. Because of the bad weather Pres. Arroyo canceled her trip so Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and Senator Mar Roxas inducted the officers of the PPP Iloilo and Aklan chapters.
Early morning the following day, June 21 (Saturday), I was awakened by the news on the radio that a flashflood hit Barotac Viejo. I then recalled hearing Gov. Niel Tupas on the radio saying that he has deployed dumptrucks to help in the evacuation of affected residents in the said town. Minutes later it was reported that the town of Pavia also became submerged in water. Later, water level in Jaro district started to rise. Then Janiuay, Calinog, Lambunao, Barotac Nuevo, Tigbauan, Cabatuan, Leganes, Zarraga, almost all of the towns in the province became flooded!
I became glued to the radio listening to updates on the flood happening all over while my cellphone kept receiving messages from a friend who became stranded on a bus in front of the Coca-Cola plant in Barangay Ungka asking me to call for rescuers. Unfortunately, all the volunteer rescuers had their hands full during that time. In fact, some rescuers were also flood victims so you really have nobody to call. It was a hopeless case. All that the people could do then was to pray that the water would subside fast. I've heard of friends who stayed overnight on top of their roofs, on top of vehicles, on the second floor of their houses with nothing to eat and drink. Many houses, roads and bridges were destroyed by the flood. There were families who lost their loved ones.
The flood was really unthinkable even to the environmental experts. Most of the elders said they haven't seen or experienced such widespread flood here in their lifetime. It was learned from the weather bureau that the amount of rainfall during that day was equivalent to the amount of rainfall for one year. Apparently that explains why such volume of water went down from the mountains.
Others say the flood brought by typhoon Frank was the price we have to pay for abusing our environment. It signals that our forest cover could no longer hold the water brought by heavy rains.
It's almost one year after the tragedy has passed. Sadly, however, the national government has yet to release the P8 billion rehabilitation fund intended for the repair of infrastructures destroyed by flood. Until now our lawmakers are still on the process of deliberation as to where to source such fund. Meantime, the city, province and the entire region have slowly risen from the mud (literally) brought by the flood through the people's concerted efforts and determination to recover from the tragedy. But, definitely typhoon Frank is one such disaster the Ilonggos could not forget in their lifetime.