Gov Begtang: Apayao still in state of calamity

LUNA, Apayao -- The province of Apayao continues to be battered by weather disturbances causing deaths and damage to properties including infrastructures.

Governor Eleanor Bulut-Begtang reported that  more than 4,000 families or 15, 248 individuals have been affected by the recent  Typhoon Tisoy and the effects of  northeast monsoon as well as the tail end of a cold front since December 1.

“We experienced another weather disturbance while still recovering from the recent calamities and in fact the province is still in a state of calamity,” Begtang said.

                More than 600 families were also displaced from the different towns after their houses were affected by the flashfloods and landslide incidents in the province.

                In the town of Calanasan, Municipal Information Officer Dean Abbagao reported that at least three barangays were nearly washed out following the flashfloods that were experienced during the height of the continuous heavy rains on December 4 and 5.

Abbagao said that Calanasan was again isolated due to the closure of the three major roads leading to the municipality particularly the Calanasan-Claveria Road, the Kabugao – Calanasan Road and the Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road. He said that more than a hundred landslide occurrences were recorded in the identified roads.  

                DPWH-Apayao First District Engineering Office Albert Gahid said that the clearing operations continued since the closing of its major roads even a month before. He said that the Kabugao-Calanasan Road including the Apayao-Ilocos Norte via Solsona roads was punched thru opened by heavy equipment of the DPWH Apayao with the support of the equipment from the DPWH-Bureau of Equipment and the private contractors who worked hand in hand to open the road immediately.

                As of Friday, the Claveria – Calanasan Road is still closed but clearing operations are on going.

 In Luna town, Mayor Josephine Bangsil said that several barangays in   Marag Valley were also isolated due to the closure of roads in the are caused by landslide. She said that residents have to walk in the soil erosion just to reach out to the municipal DRRM.

                The Apayao PDRRMO also confirmed the death of at least two individuals identified as Cresencio Francisco Dimaano Jr., 81, from Lappa in Luna and Mario Parandit, 38, of Cadaclan, Calanasan  both due to drowning incidents on December 5, 2019.

                Meanwhile, two are still missing namely Arjay Mamaril, 4, of Calayucay, Calanasan and Gelano Parandit, 74, of Cadaclan Calanasan. They are subject of the on going search and rescue operations by the different operatives from the MDRRMO and the other agencies

According to the PDRRMO, the identified individuals were victims of flashfloods that swiped their homes to the rivers during the height of the heavy rains of December 5.

                On December 10, the provincial  government led by Gov. Begtang made aerial inspection and relief operations at the affected areas while the PDRRMO, on December 11, deployed three teams to Calayucay in Luna and Macalino and Cadaclan in Calanasan conducted  a Rapid Disaster Assessment and Needs Analysis   to know the condition of the barangays of the reported most affected barangays in Apayao.

                The teams were composed of representatives from the various national line agencies in the province as well as members of the PDRRMO who trekked the mountains to Calanasan and took boat rides to the affected areas in Luna. The PDRRMO is still waiting for the results of the RDANA who are expected to report back to the provincial offices on the weekend after their tour of duty.

The PDRRMO will also be conducting more RDANA to the different areas in the province particularly in the isolated barangays.

Begtang is again soliciting support from the different line agencies and other organizations to help the province of Apayao particularly on its immediate needs such as relief goods, clothes, repair kits, health and sanitation kits and other non-food items to be distributed to the different affected barangays. (JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR)