GOVERNMENT AID Residents of Barangay San Jose, Milaor town in Camarines Sur wade through a flooded street on their way home after receiving relief goods from the local government on Friday. —PHOTO FROM GOV. LUIGI VILLAFUERTE’S FACEBOOK PAGE
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — More than 12,000 residents who were displaced by flooding and landslides in Camarines Sur province due to Tropical Depression Amang returned home on Friday as the weather improved, authorities said.
Gremil Alexis Naz, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol spokesperson, said the 2,570 families (12,066 people) from the province’s 12 towns were allowed to go home after they were evacuated from high-risk areas.
Amang weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) before heading for the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
According to the state weather bureau, the LPA was spotted 40 kilometers southwest of Iba town, Zambales province, at 10 a.m. It was expected to bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Bataan and Zambales.
CleaningOn Thursday afternoon, Gov. Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte also lifted the class suspension at all levels in public and private schools.
He canceled classes on Wednesday due to the threat of flooding and landslides, especially in vulnerable areas.
Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion also ordered the resumption of classes at all levels and work in government starting Friday.
But Legacion said some administrators in schools that remained flooded may defer class resumption to have enough time to clean and ensure the safety of the students and their personnel.
Classes at all levels and work in government offices in Naga City were suspended on Thursday after the widespread flooding.
Naz said about 91 villages in Naga City and the towns of Bombon, Magarao, Calabanga, Buhi, Baao, Pili, Bula, Minalabac, Pamplona, Pasacao, Canaman, Nabua and Gainza were flooded from Tuesday until Thursday.
Some roads were also rendered impassable due to landslides and flooding, which already subsided in most of the affected areas since Thursday.
—WITH A REPORT FROM CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE
READ: ‘Amang’ weakens, leaves Camarines Sur towns flooded