Carina-enhanced ‘habagat’ causes flooding in 5 Iloilo towns

ILOILO CITY: Five municipalities of Iloilo experienced flooding due to massive rains caused by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Super Typhoon Carina. Despite this, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Cornelio Salinas said Thursday the province is still in a manageable situation and that monitoring the extent of damage will continue. In its report submitted to Governor Arthur Defensor, Salinas said flooding was monitored in Barangays Calaboa and Guinobatan in Leganes, where three families consisting of 16 individuals, including nine children, were evacuated. Barangays Jalaud, Baras, Agcuyawan Calsada, Guintas, and Bunca in the town of Barotac Nuevo also experienced flooding, but there was no report of families being evacuated. The municipality of Dumangas recorded flooding in Barangays Tabucan and Baras, resulting in the evacuation of 116 families, equivalent to 464 individuals. Barangay Poblacion in the municipality of Oton also experienced flooding, although it has yet to report its evacuees. Further, 14 barangays of the municipality of Zarraga reported flooding affecting 637 families or 2,027 individuals. The municipality has already activated its 24/7 emergency operation center, although it has not recorded families being evacuated. 'It is the judgment call of their municipal DRRM officer to whether or not to evacuate their residents,' Salinas said. He added they are now consolidating and finalizing the reports from affected municipalities for possible relief assistance from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and medical assistance from the Provincial Health Office. Meanwhile, flooding in several barangays in Iloilo City is gradually subsiding, according to the city's DRRM Office Operations Center. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, only four barangays remain flooded, including Oñate de Leon, Sooc, Sta. Cruz, and Yulo Drive, while flooding in 29 other barangays already subsided. Source: Philippines News agency