‘Ompong’ damages Vigan’s heritage houses

HERITAGE DISTRICT Tourists will be greeted by damaged Spanish-era homes when they visit the heritage district of Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province after Typhoon “Ompong” swept through northern Luzon. —LEONCIO BALBIN JR. / CONTRIBUTOR

VIGAN CITY—Calle Crisologo, or Mena Crisologo Street, a major tourist attraction because of its old Spanish houses, was virtually empty on Monday, two days after Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) slammed northern Luzon last week.

The typhoon damaged more than P1 billion worth of crops in Ilocos Sur province but its impact on Vigan tourism was what hurt residents here the most.

Ompong’s strong winds peeled off or cracked the roofs of many houses along the city’s heritage core zone, including the former Escuela de Niñas, the first school for girls in northern Luzon. Vigan is one of the country’s oldest cities.

Work, class suspensions

Because of the need to clean up debris, most Vigan museums were closed and no one had been seen walking around Calle Crisologo, a favorite promenade area for tourists.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson suspended work and classes to allow residents to clean up their homes.

It would take the city a week for business to pick up because work crews were allowed to attend to their homes, which were also damaged by Ompong, said Edgar dela Cruz, Vigan tourism officer.

Tourists who were caught in the typhoon opted to stay in their hotels. Most guests left on Sunday as the weather condition improved after Ompong left the country.