State of calamity up in several towns, cities in Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Isabela
Residents wade through floodwaters brought about by Typhoon Koppu at Zaragosa township, Nueva Ecija provinc,e north of Manila, Philippines Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Slow-moving Typhoon Koppu blew ashore with fierce wind in the northeastern Philippines early Sunday, toppling trees and knocking out power and communications and forcing the evacuation of thousands of villagers.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Recovering from the destruction brought by typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu), several towns and cities in various provinces in Central and Northern Luzon have been placed under state of calamity.
In a report by Radyo Inquirer, Jaen and San Isidro towns in Nueva Ecija has declared state of calamity Monday morning.
According to Jaen Mayor Santi Austria, Lando flooded 95 percent of their town, affecting more than 5,000 families.
Austria estimated that more than 6,000 hectares of farmland were also affected.
“What happened to us was sad as we were hit by the wind for about six to seven hours. We thought that trees would fall down and be stuck in mud,” Austria said in Filipino.
On the other hand, San Isidro Mayor Dong Lopez Jr. also said that his town has been placed under state of calamity.
Other areas which were ravaged by Lando and declared state of calamity include San Carlos City in Pangasinan and Ilagan City in Isabela province.
The slow-moving Lando dumped heavy rains and released strong winds in the said provinces on Monday, placing them under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 on Sunday.
According to the 11 a.m. weather bulletin issued on Monday by state weather bureau Pagasa, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Nueva Ecija, Isabela and Pangasinan.
Republic Act 10121 defines state of calamity as “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurence of natural or human-induced hazard.”
Upon declaration of a state of calamity, local government units are allowed to utilize their calamity fund for recovery and relief programs. AJH/ With a report from Erwin Aguilon, Radyo Inquirer
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