By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Continual rains occurring in St.Bernard town, about 124 kilometers away from this city, has now affected, as of the second week of January 2011, 19 barangays, a total of 1,239 families and 4,979 individuals. They were housed in evacuation centers situated in different areas and in school buildings, barangay halls, Day Care Centers and some in churches and to their relatives in safer areas.
This was the disclosure of MDRRMC (Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) Public Information Committee Chair Rosalinda A. Araneta in her report to the Provincial Disaster Management Center office located at the Capitol Site here. The PDMC has also sent three of its staff-Joey Bernales, Adolfo Costillas and Emmanuel Cadavos to St.Bernard to help in the retrieval and relief operations.
Araneta revealed damage to Agricultural areas, mainly rice, in 25 out of 30 barangays has now reached an estimated amount of P11, 599,200.00. Partial initial assessment of damage to Infrastructures is estimated at P100, 000.00.
Earlier, it was reported that in brgy.Bolodbolod 3 children have died due to flooding. Namely, 5-year-old Maria Fatima Discareal, one-year-old Rod Discareal and three-year-old Jordan Lakipon, who was missing but was later, recovered.
Lately, two other children were drowned: ten-year-old Ricabelle Sabino Monte de Ramos of brgy. Maanyag, Tomas Oppus; and eleven-year-old Roderick Pelaez of brgy.Pancho Villa, Sogod.
The aforementioned 19 barangays were either affected by flashflood, flood or minor landslides. Except for Bolodbolod where a landslide and flood occurred, totally damaging 3 houses and partially damaging 2 houses. Another one is brgy.Mahayahay where a flashflood has occurred, washing away one house and considered as totally damaged.
Currently, some government agencies, private companies,NGOs and some private individuals have provided assistance and pledges, among others, in the form of relief goods, various foods,water,medicines,sacks of rice, canned goods,clothes,water containers, kitchen utensils, soap for washing and bathing, bed sheets,mats,slippers,mosquito nets,M/F underwears,footwears,water purifier,toiletry,umbrellas,cash.
The Southern Leyte provincial government has provided heavy equipments, dump trucks, aside from relief goods, food items and water. Cebu Pacific Air has pledged to provide free freight of GMA Kapuso relief goods.
Smart and Globe provide free communications, while the 7th Day Adventist make Pledges.GTZ Disaster Risk Management has also provided trauma kit, public address system and emergency kit.
NFA-Maasin, Radnet 5-Tacloban and League of Municipalities of the Philippines, sent sacks of rice, while the Plan International, Inc. donated cash of P1M.Reggie Mercado of GTEK also gave unmentioned amount of cash.
On the other hand, Guinsaugon survivors who were re-located in brgy.Magbagakay are now the host of brgy.Tambis 1 which has the highest number of evacuees due to flashflood, but no casualty.
During the discussions with Mayor Rico Rentuza among organizations like the ABNS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and others, there were plans for permanent relocation options and mitigation measures. The Chief Executive also wants to construct a mega-dike at Lawigan River, but due to limited funds requests to other agencies were made to realize the project.
For the moment soft mitigation measures were implemented, among others, like dredging, re-channeling, installations of gabions, installations of coconets for possible landslide on rainy days.
Araneta further informed that the LGU continues to capacitate its constituents, not only for landslides and floods, but also for tsunamis and earthquakes.
She divulged Gawad Kalinga also continues to support in coordination with the local government for the construction of additional housing units in identified safer areas.
For his part, Mayor Rentuza likewise admitted his administration needs a long term financial and technical assistance for the acquisition of lots for development of additional relocations sites and construction of housing units. Also mitigation measures, he said, for the construction of river control dikes, especially the Lawigan River, riprapping, dredging of canals, rehabilitation of drainage facilities, rehabilitation of waterworks system and rehabilitation of access roads.
Other Agencies,Groups,Individuals who have provided assistance and pledges to the evacuees: LGU St.Bernard,DSWD-Maasin City, Philippine National Red Cross-Maasin,PNP St.Bernard,BFP St.Bernard,DSWD-8,DPWH-8,Office of Civil Defense, Absolute Water,Inc.,Gawad Kalinga, Ormoc City Government and Mayor Eric Codilla,An Waray Tacloban,Philippine Air Force,Cyril Nathan Eamiguel,Leyte Metropolian Water District,Sogod Water District,Baybay Water District,Tacloban Delta Volunteer Fire Brigade,Cellcom World Tacloban,Coca Cola Bottlers,Ivanhoe Philippines,Simbahang Lingkod Ng Bayan,Edwina Resabal of San Juan,Rosalia Bonpin of brgy.Malibago,St.Bernard; Operation Blessing; Grachelle and Graeola Ladaga,Roderick Epogon,Frances Ann Arbiol and Vhicar dela Ysla all of Baybay City;ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, Philippine Asphalt Smelting and Refinery Corp., PRO-POOR Pharmaceuticals and LGU-San Francisco,Camotes Island, Cebu.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Lemar’s Electronics
R.K. Kangleon St, Tunga-Tunga, Maasin City, So.Leyte
Dealer of electronics and electrical parts, videoke parts,
Musical instruments, CCTV, Surveillance System.tel.
Nos.(053)381-2482; (053)570-8588; Lemar’s General
Merchandise,tel. Nos.(053)381-2087;(053)570-9658,
Tomas Oppus St., Maasin City, So.Leyte
Panny’s Bakeshop, Maasin City, So.Leyte,
Infront of Mercury Drug.Tel. No.(053)381-2041;
Panny’s Homebakeshop Products, Tacloban City Branch,
125 Gomez St. corner Paterno St.Tel. no.(053)321-5353.
Accept Orders.
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