Ilocos Norte town placed under state of calamity

By Leilanie Adriano 

LAOAG CITY – The municipality of Solsona in Ilocos Norte was placed under a state of calamity on Monday due to severe flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon intensified by Typhoon Hanna for almost a week now.
    Solsona Vice Mayor Jonathan de Lara said the municipal council's approval a resolution declaring the municipality under a state of calamity was unanimous.
    “As of the moment, we have three isolated barangays which are heavily flooded from the town proper due to damaged access roads,” he said in an interview.
    Roads connecting barangays Nalasin, Lipay and Aguitap are not passable due to raging floodwaters that have not receded yet, he said.
    As of posting time, the estimated cost of damage has yet to be announced as several road networks and embankments were hit hard by severe landslides as light to moderate and heavy rainfall continued.
    The municipal government of Solsona and the Provincial Engineering and Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council also conducted an on-site inspection on Monday to assess the current condition and plan future rehabilitation of the road that connects the isolated Nalasin and Lipay.
    The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council urged all residents to stay vigilant as moderate with occasional heavy rains will still persist due to "habagat".
    On Monday afternoon, the weather bureau said a low pressure area was estimated 870 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon and the southwest monsoon continues to bring rains in this part of the country.
    Due to continuous monsoon rains, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc also suspended classes in pre-school and elementary on Monday. -- PNA