8 now dead in Capiz floods; damage totals P35.5 M in one town alone

ROXAS CITY, Philippines—The death toll from floods in Capiz climbed to 8 on Tuesday as the authorities reported that agricultural losses totaled P35.5 million in the town of Panay town alone.

Esperedion Pelaez, action officer of the Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council informed the provincial board that only the town of Panay had submitted a report damage to agriculture and fisheries.

The town reported that 1,195.15 hectares of rice crops worth about P25,247,536 were destroyed by the flooding, caused by incessant rains. In addition, 15.32 hectares of vegetables worth P1,582,000 and 215 hectares of fisheries worth P8,700,000 were also damaged.

Pelaez said the municipal agriculture offices in the other towns including Roxas City have yet to submit their damage reports.

The number of fatalities also increased to eight with three more people reported to have drowned.

The three additional fatalities were identified as Henry Huliete, 47, of Barangay  Angub, Cuartero town; Rey Ricaforte, 17, of Barangay Balucuan, Dao; and Excelsa Salomeo, 62, of Barangay Matagnop, also in Dao town.

Five children were earlier reported to have drowned in various places in Capiz.

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan held a special session on Tuesday so it could place the province of Capiz under a state of calamity in view of the extensive damage left by the floods.

Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco had asked the SP to make the declaration so they could use the calamity fund to assist the affected residents and barangays.

Tanco had earlier released P5 million of the “Quick Response Fund” from the province’s calamity fund.

In a visit to the affected areas in Capiz last Saturday, Transportation and Communication Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who hails from Capiz,  said the national government had released P1 million as relief assistance to the flood victims.

Roxas said he would ask President Aquino to speed up the implementation of the Panay floodway project to address the flooding problem in the province. He added that he would ask the President to give additional assistance to the flood victims in Capiz.