Capiz placed under state of calamity

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Dec. 29 (PIA6) -- The flood-affected towns in Capiz have already been placed under the state of calamity.

In a session by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Capiz on December 28, towns and barangays were put under the state of calamity after the same were affected by flood brought about by heavy rains due to Tropical Storm Quinta.

The declaration came after the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) here, chaired by Governor Victor Tanco, passed a resolution recommending to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the entire province of Capiz under a state of calamity.

In its resolution, the Council pointed out that the devastation caused by typhoon Quinta was unprecedented with floodwater level even higher than that of typhoon Frank and the extent of damage on crops, livestock, properties and even lives is undeniably considerable and unimaginable.

The Council likewise stressed the need for the provincial government to provide immediate assistance to needing and affected families and localities, in which the fund source for said assistance can be charged from the calamity fund.

After deliberation by the local Sanggunian, however, it declared those localities that are only affected by the impact of said typhoon under the state of calamity.

Reports from the PDRRMC Action Office as of 6 p.m. of December 28 showed that 151 barangays in Capiz involving 14,577 families or 54,962 persons are affected by flooding due to said typhoon.

Of the total affected barangays, 26 are in Mambusao, 22 in Panitan, 15 each in Panay and Dao, 14 in Pontevedra, 17 in Sigma, 8 in Maayon, 11 in Tapaz, 9 in Cuartero, 7 in Dumalag, 4 in Dumarao and 3 in Roxas City.

Typhoon Quinta likewise claimed two lives here with one person still missing at the height of flooding.

Initial report from the PDRRMC also noted a 16,003.37-hectare damage on rice plantation with an estimated cost of more than P16.53 million and a 386-hectare and 29-hectare damage on corn and vegetable production, respectively.

The damage on fisheries so far was posted at P500,000 covering 4 hectares, the PDRRMC office disclosed. (JSC/Jemin B. Guillermo-PIA6 Capiz)