SAMAR, Philippines – Food supply is running low in the town of Lope De Vega in Northern Samar as heavy rains and serious flooding isolate the municipality.
According to Dir. Rei Josiah Echano, Head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in an interview on Saturday (December 29) major roads leading to the town proper are heavily submerged in floodwater which makes it impossible to transport by land the additional supplies needed to stranded residents.
Echano said they are preparing to airlift the needed supplies as soon as possible.
Based on their estimate, the municipal government’s supply of goods is enough only for residents’ consumption until Saturday evening.
Echano noted that they did not anticipate the amount of rains that the ongoing weather system would bring as they experienced a 1-month volume of rainfall in just a period of 6 to 10 hour which coincidentally the same amount they recorded exactly 30 years ago on December 29, 1988.
As of this writing, authorities confirmed four casualties due to the effects of the low pressure area (LPA).
Three died in a landslide in Brgy. Henaroganon identified as Eddie Panao; Edison Panao; and Mea Panao.
Meanwhile, one casualty was recorded in Brgy. Osmeña due to drowning identified as Jun Mendaño.
Director Echano said they already have recommended a declaration of a state of calamity in the town of Lope De Vega to speed up emergency operations though there is no confirmation yet as of press time. – Marje Pelayo
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