MORE NEWS, IFUGAO

Gov declares state of calamity in Ifugao
By Juan B. Dait, Jr.

LAGAWE, Ifugao - - A state of calamity in this province was declared Saturday (May 9, 2009) by Gov. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. following massive destruction throughout this province wrought by Typhoon Emong.

Hardest hit by the typhoon was Kiangan, hometown of the governor, where nine persons were killed by two landslides in Barangays Poblacion and Pindongan. Five houses were totally destroyed by mudslides caused by several days of continuous heavy rains.

In this capital town, two persons were confirmed dead, one missing, in Barangay Maitab. A church of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was destroyed by a landslide.

The Ifugao Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council chaired by Ms. Joyce Niwane, Provincial Social Work and Development Officer, reported that a Bontoc – bound truck loaded with 40 cavans rice fell off a ravine along the highway in Barangay Pitawan resulting in the death of its driver and helper.

The disaster coordinating council also reported that many families in the town of Alfonso Lista affected by Typhoon Emong were evacuated to Barangay San Juan due to the inundation of the Magat River.

As of press time, all roads connecting the 11 municipalities of this province have been closed to traffic.

The towns of Asipulo, Tinoc, Hungduan, Aguinaldo and Mayoyao are still isolated, according to the disaster council.

Baguilat said the landslides particularly in the municipality of Kiangan are the worst that occurred in Ifugao in living memory.

The governor appealed for assistance from national government agencies, saying that the provincial government of Ifugao had “only P 17-million in calamity funds”.

In Kiangan, Mayor Jonathan Cuyahon said he would convene the municipal development council and the league of barangay captains to pinpoint the areas which are prone to landslides and to enlist technical assistance from agencies to prevent the occurrence in the failure of natural calamities that would threaten the lives of the people.