Evacuees return home after severe floods in Antique

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Families in all three evacuation centers in Antique went back to their homes as floodwaters subsided on Sunday.

A total of 872 families, consisting of 2,979 persons, were affected by the flood in Antique, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Of those affected, 86 families, composed of 303 persons, were brought to the evacuation centers on Saturday due to non-stop rains spawned by Tropical Depression “Ester.”

No casualties were reported.

The DSWD distributed food packs to families who left their homes and stayed in evacuation centers due to non-stop rains last Saturday.

Based on the data of DSWD, food packs were delivered to the towns of Hamtic, Sibalom, and San Jose, all in Antique.

Aside from food, the DSWD also distributed hygiene kits to the evacuees.

The Municipal Social Welfare Development Office coordinated with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Office and the local police to deliver relief goods to the evacuation centers.

The Barangay Operation Centers were also opened to disaster victims of Barangay Catungan-Bugarot in San Jose town with the help of the local governments.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office advised residents living near mountain slopes and river systems “to take precautionary measures to protect life and property” whenever there are floods or landslides.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said the Antique to Iloilo roads were passable even during the flood.

READ: 102 families in 3 Antique towns evacuate as TD Ester dump heavy rain