AGUSAN DEL SUR - Four people were confirmed dead and three others injured as thousands were housed temporarily in safe shelters after typhoon Pablo (BOPHA) battered the province Tuesday morning on December.
In a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), a total of 30,305 persons evacuated following Pablo destroyed their houses. Heavy rains and strong gust of winds resulted to trees collapsing on houses and roads and the swelling of rivers and creeks.
About 20 people coming from different barangays of Veruela, Sibagat, Rosario, Sta. Josefa and Trento were dead and 12 persons were injured.
PDRRMC report revealed the municipality of Veruela was the hardest hit as 4, 532 families comprised of 24, 238 persons in 20 barangays were heavily affected. Reports also indicate massive destruction on properties, infrastructure and agriculture. Next with the highest number of affected persons is Sta. Josefa town with 2, 578 families made up of 13, 296 individuals.
Meanwhile, cost of partially damaged houses was pegged at 11, 347 and 378 million cost of damage to crops and livestocks and reaches to P221 million costs of infrastructures damages.
At present, 147 barangays have no electricity.
On Wednesday morning, Governor Eddiebong Plaza and Vice-Governor Santiago Cane Jr. and other provincial officials personally conducted an ocular inspection in the devastated areas and lamented on the extent of damages brought about by the super typhoon.
Asked for his comment while in Veruela, the governor stressed, “napakasama nang nangyari dito. Nakakalungkot ang nakita nating lawak ng pinsala sa crops pati sa rubber and palm oil plantations galing sa Trento papunta ng Sta. Josefa at dito. Malaking problema ito at kailangan na nating humingi ng tulong sa national government upang mabigyan ng kaukulang solusyon kasi karamihan ay nawalan ng bahay at kabuhayan.”
Governor Plaza added, “this is the first time sa history ng Agusan del Sur na ganito karami ang nasirang bahay. Ilang beses na tayong binaha kaya medyo sanay na tayo pero bago sa atin ang malakas na hangin. Dapat na nating itaas ang kaalaman ng mga mamamayan sa kakaibang takbo ng panahon ngayon. Ang daming proyektong ibinuhos ang DSWD through KALAHI-CIDDS at nang LGU dito pero puro sira talaga. Kailangan matugunan ito ng kaukulang hakbang at alam ko babangon ang Veruela at ang buong Agusan del Sur.”
The local government of the affected municipalities is now providing the needs of the victims through the distribution of relief assistance like food, water and clothing. (PPIO-AgSur)
