Ilocos Region still flooded; inaccessible roads bared

Ilocos Norte declared in state of calamity 

By Liezle Basa Iñigo

SAN FERNANDO CTY, La Union -- With the continuous Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) since last week, the Ilocos Region is still flooded and left the region with homeless families and isolated roads even as the Ilocos Norte provincial board declared the province in state of calamity.

According to Police Regional Office 1, as of Aug. 28, 86 houses and infrastructures in Ilocos Sur were destroyed, 42 barangays in the region were flooded, and 11 roads were isolated by Habagat and left 200 families (730 individuals) in evacuation centers.

Data revealed that the Ilocos Sur landslide incident killed an individual, and one reported missing person in Luna, La Union due to drowning incident.

Meanwhile DPWH region 1 reported on status of roads and bridges.

And motorists were advised to have alternative routes due to inaccessible roads to include:
1. Sitio Basset, Poblacion, Adams, Ilocos Norte;
2. Cervantes-Quirino, Ilocos Sur road, Quirino-San Emilio road (not passable due to high level of water of the river);
3. Salcedo, Ilocos Sur-Sigay-Del Pilar road (not passable due to high level of water of the river);
4. Del Pilar-San Emilio, Ilocos Sur road (not passable due to high level of water of the river);
5. Brgy Nanguneg-San Pedro Bridge, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur (not passable due to high level of water of the river);
6. Road going to Brgy Daking, Balbalayang and Lon-oy, San Gabriel, La Union (not passable to any type of vehicle due to landslide at Sitio Padang, Brgy Bumbuneg. Ongoing clearing operations being conducted by personnel of MDRRMO and San Gabriel PS);
7. Naguilian-Bagulin Road, Brgy Bimmotubot, Naguilian, La Union (not passable to all type of vehicles due to soil erosion. On-going clearing operations by MDRRMO);
8. Bani, Pangasinan: Detour bridge in Brgy Garrita is passable to light vehicles only;
9. Aguilar, Pangasinan: Sitio Sobol Bridge of Barangay Baybay (not passable to heavy Vehicles (Big Buses and Heavy truck));
10. Bugallon, Pangasinan: Sitio Sobol, Baybay Aguilar bridge connecting Bugallon is passable to light vehicles; and
11. San Carlos City, Pangasinan: Brgy. Aponit, going to Barangay Tamayo not passable to light vehicles.

The Police Regional Office 1 under the leadership of PCSupt Romulo E Sapitula, PRO1 Regional Director, deployed 57 police officers and 646 were on standby for possible Search and Rescue Operations in the region. Further, the Police Regional Office 1 continuously pursues proactive measures to minimize casualties in the region.

In Ilocos Norte, a total of 111 million pesos worth of infrastructural and agricultural damages and more than 14,000 affected residents were recorded.

 “Declaring Ilocos Norte under state of calamity would mean coordinated efforts in every part of our province,” said Vice Governor Angelo Marcos Barba.

Gov. Imee R. Marcos urged cooperation from everyone to ensure safety.

“Kinakailangan talaga na magtulungan tayong lahat.  Nag-umpisa na ang pamamahagi natin ng mgarelief goods at isusunod din natin ang mga medical operations