Ilagan in ‘state of calamity’

By Jun Elias 

ILAGAN, Isabela – This city has been placed under a state of calamity due to the damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
    The city disaster risk reduction and management council recommended declaration of a state of calamity to allow the city government to use its calamity funds to assist affected residents.
    Twenty-nine barangays were flooded, 13 of them still isolated and 19,516 people affected.
    The CDRRMC said several roads and bridges were submerged in floodwater, some of which remain impassable due to landslides.
    Damage to agriculture was estimated at around P10 million, the city agriculture office reported.
    Mayor Josemarie Diaz issued an executive order Wednesday declaring Nov. 2 a special non-working holiday to allow residents to conduct a clean-up drive and maintenance works in the aftermath of Paeng as well as observe All Souls’ Day.
    Classes in all levels in the city were also suspended.
    Diaz noted that the city government is initiating a citywide clean-up and rehabilitation activity and conducting relief operations to help in the recovery of affected barangays.