State of calamity up in Oriental Mindoro

TIWI LANDSLIDE Nine people died after this hillside at Barangay Sugod in Tiwi, Albay, collapsed and washed out houses during heavy rains last week. GEORGE GIO BRONDIAL

A state of calamity was declared on Wednesday in Oriental Mindoro province after flash floods on Dec. 30 killed three people and destroyed crops, livestock and houses.

The three fatalities were Eden Rubion, 19, from Bansud town; Rico Maestro, 59, from Baco town; and Mark Hernandez, 13, from Calapan City.

Earlier in Bicol, the provincial governments of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Albay provinces had declared their areas under state of calamity after landslides and floods spawned by Tropical Depression “Usman” left more than 60 people dead in the region.

Swollen rivers

Many farmlands and fishponds were washed out in Oriental Mindoro, Gov. Alfonso Umali said, adding that losses in crops and livestock would reach more than P77 million.

The provincial board, in a resolution, initially placed the towns of Baco, Naujan, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Bansud and Bongabong, and Calapan City under a state of calamity.

Earlier reports from the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council said the Panggalaan and Bucayao rivers in Calapan and the Alag, Malapad and Longos rivers in Baco overflowed, causing widespread flooding.

STRANDED Motorists are stranded as floodwaters submerge a section of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. PHOTO COURTESY OF ORIENTAL MINDORO PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

The tourist town of Puerto Galera also suffered from flooding due to heavy rains over the last three days.

Damage to roads and infrastructure reached P788 million after several dikes and portions of the flood control infrastructure in Pinamalayan, Gloria, Victoria, Bansud and Naujan towns, and Calapan City collapsed.

Water supply

Umali said the provincial government had already released 250 cavans of rice as part of relief packs distributed to affected families.

The Department of Health (DOH) said it would distribute water-sanitizing reagents to affected communities to prevent an outbreak of diarrhea.

“The flood could have damaged the water system and we fear it may have contaminated the (water) supply,” said Ramonito Martin of the regional DOH emergency management staff.

As the weather improved on Wednesday, evacuees had returned to their homes but Umali said floodwaters in some areas had yet to recede. —MARICAR CINCO