Iloilo under state of calamity

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The entire province of Iloilo was placed under state of calamity Saturday afternoon, November 9. 

A Philippine National Agency report said the provincial board expects more casualties to be recorded as authorities assess the situation in the northern town of Estancia. 

Acting Governor Raul Tupas said Estancia, a fishing municipality, was almost 100% destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan). 

Earlier, The towns of Dumangas, Mina, Janiuay, and Zarraga in the province of Iloilo were placed under a state of calamity. (READ: Test of resilience: State of calamity in 4 Iloilo towns). 

The declaration of a state of calamity allows the province to use its P70-million calamity fund. 

In the entire province, 8 people were confirmed dead while one remained missing, with more casualties expected. 

Meanwhile, the town of Sara, remains isolated as of Saturday afternoon after the flood damaged roads to the area. 

A number of towns in the 5th district –  including Carles, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Concepcion, Batad, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and Balasan – also suffered the brunt of Yolanda. 

Communication and power lines in these towns remain cut off as of Saturday afternoon, Tupas said. 

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, these are the number of families displaced across Iloilo: 

• 600 – Miag-ao
• 110 – Guimbal
• 344 – Zarraga
• 841 – Pavia
• 223 – San Miguel
• 128 – New Lucena
• 429 – Mina
• 1,321 – Janiuay
• 1815 – Dumangas
• 3,140 – Passi city
• 40 – Ajuy
• 1200 – Carles

The provincial government of Iloilo is implementing a disaster preparedness and mitigation project called ReBUILD or Resilience Capacity Building for Cities and Municipalities to Reduce Disaster Risks from Climate Change and Natural Hazards. (READ: Rebuilding Iloilo to become a disaster-resilient LGU)

It particularly planned to put in place mitigating measures that includ early warning systems in communities, operational contingency plans, re-engineered infrastructure, and zoning regulations based on risks. – Angela Casauay/Rappler.com