Butuan dad declares no class, work today
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – As per Proclamation
No. 7, Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr has declared suspension of classes in all
levels today in both public and private schools, and no work for government and
private including banking institutions.
“In view of the disastrous effects of the
weeklong Low Pressure Area and subsequent Tropical Depression ‘Agaton’ which
have brought floodwaters submerging almost all barangays of the city, there is
an urgent need to cancel classes in all levels from pre-school to college level
and suspend work both in government and private institutions, including
banking, in order to prevent any untoward incidents including loss of lives and
properties, pursuant to Section 1 (c) of Executive Order No. 66, series 2012,
issued by His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III," Amante said.
The cancellation of work in private institutions
is due to the fact that the flooding has already affected 63 barangays, making
the transportation difficult and necessitating the need to safeguard every
family in the barangays including those 8,107 families in the various
evacuation centers which is still increasing in number.
Also, Amante said that after consultation with
the members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(CDRRMC), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Schools Division
Superintendent’s Office, said proclamation was signed and released.
It was also stated in the proclamation that all
government offices within the city, particularly those directly involved in
disaster risk reduction and management shall maintain the operations of their
respective offices through a skeletal force to ensure the continuity of the
delivery of services to the public. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Agnor province placed under state of calamity
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Due to the effects
of Tropical Depression “Agaton” that caused flooding to most parts of Agusan
del Norte, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(PDRRMC) chaired by governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba recommended the
approval of the declaration of the province under the state of calamity,
Sunday, January 19.
On the same day, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)
members convened for a special meeting and declared the province under the
State of Calamity through SP Resolution Number 003-2014.
The PDRRMO headed by officer Erma Suyo is
continuously monitoring the status of water level in the different
municipalities of the province, local DRRMCs are likewise advised to be on
24-hour monitoring since January 11. Forced evacuations were enforced to those
residents living in low-lying areas.
To ensure safety of school children, classes in
all levels on Monday are suspended until such time the order will be lifted.
The Cuyago road in the municipality of Jabonga
is passable only to heavy vehicles as the road is flooded, as per Department of
Public Works and Highways latest situational report today.
Also, as of 5PM, Sunday, eight barangays in the
municipality of Jabonga were affected (Poblacion, Magsaysay, Bunga, San Pablo,
Colorado, Beltran, Libas, San Jose) with 2,089 families or 8,559 individuals.
Around 395 families or 2,370 individuals
affected in the municipality of Las Nieves and three barangays (Lapaz,
Tagbuyacan & E. Morgado) with 60 families or 238 individuals were affected
in the municipality of Santiago.
A total of 12 barangays (Brgy. 4, Brgy. 5, Brgy.
6, Brgy. 8, Brgy. 9, Brgy. 10, Matabao, Manapa, Malpoc, Sacol, Simbalan and
Abilan) in the municipality of Buenavista with 1,293 families or 6,288
individuals are also flooded
According to Erma Suyo, PDRRM Officer, as of
10PM, Sunday, 69 families or 201 individuals are now evacuated at the municipal
gym in Nasipit.
Relief goods were distributed to the affected
families/evacuees.
Community Affairs Officer IV Edgar M. Palarca,
Jr. of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte also said that as of
11:30AM Monday, January 20, the province has extended and distributed a total
of 2,330 packs of goods and 500 mats to all affected areas in the province.
The PDRRMO has recorded a total of 5,103
families evacuated to designated evacuation centers. Total number of families
affected now reached to 5,871 or 29,528 individuals as of 10:30AM Monday,
Palarca added.
Rescue and relief operations are still going on.
Palarca also said, the provincial government has
extended assistance to the Butuan City DRRMO in their rescue operation at
barangays Mahogany, Baan Riverside and Buhangin where some 60 families have
been evacuated at the provincial capitol, here. Some equipment like rubber
boats is being used by the Philippine Coast Guard. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Butuan dad asks for donations for TD Agaton
flood-victims
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Mayor Ferdinand
Amante Jr asked everyone to extend help to the families affected by Tropical
Depression (TD) Agaton.
"They need hot meals like champorado,
binignit or pospas, which you can directly serve in the evacuation sites. Good
rice, canned goods other than sardines, mineral water especially for kids, mats
and blankets, slightly used clothes, milk for children, coffee and sugar, and
most of all your love and prayers to sustain them through the storm. It’s so heart-warming
to do it and always they show their happiness and appreciation, "said
Amante.
The city hall basement is open to receive the
donations in cash or in kind.
Amante further expressed that TD Agaton has
inflicted more damage and has affected more Butuanon lives than the killer
Yolanda. It has displaced more than 3,000 families and its complications may
even persist for a few more days.
It was also learned that repacking of relief
goods for immediate distribution to different evacuation centers in the city is
still ongoing. The disaster brigade/City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Office (CDRRMO) and other government agencies concerned are closely
coordinating for the relief distribution.
The city government according to Mayor Amante has
already given several rounds of relief goods together with the Congressional
Office of Cong. Law Fortun, other agencies and some donor institutions and
friends to the displaced families. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Water level in Agusan River increases due to TD
Agaton
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Thousands of
residents in this city were evacuated since weekend after the water level of
Agusan River continues to rise as the city and other parts of Caraga region are
still experiencing moderate to heavy rains caused by Tropical Depression
‘Agaton.’
As of 6:00 a.m. today, the City Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) here said the water level reached its
critical point at 4.12 meters.
At around 10:20 last night, the water level was
recorded at 3.80 meters and has increased into 3.90 meters at 11:20 p.m.
In a phone conversation with Butuan City Mayor
Ferdinand Amante Jr., Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) said flood water is expected to rise due to high tide.
With this, Amante calls on all Butuanons to be
more alert. "Forced evacuation will be done for those people who have not
evacuated yet. Let's work together," he stressed.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (CDRRMC) reported more than 3,000 people from barangays Baan, Baan
riverside, Mahogany, Mahay, Agao and other nearby barangays have already
evacuated at the designated evacuation centers.
Also, the Butuan Search and Rescue Team is fully
utilizing its resources/equipment to rescue other affected individuals.
Elderlies and persons with disabilities were given the priority to be
transported to evacuation centers.
For emergencies, the public may call the CDRRMO
Operation Center (OpCen) at (085) 341-2247, 343-7007, 09462369628, and
145.630MHz simplex. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DOH-13 distributes hygiene kits, other logistics
to evacuees
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – The Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga distributed hygiene kits, jerry cans and other logistics
needed by the flood victims housed in the evacuation centers due to Tropical
Depression (TD) ‘Agaton’.
According to Sunshine Alipayo, Public
Information Officer of DOH-Caraga, due to continuous rains and flooding caused
by TD Agaton, there is a possible occurrence of leptospirosis.
“One of the symptoms of having said disease is
fever. Better consult a physician right away. There are local health workers
assigned in the evacuation centers," she said.
DOH will also give Prophylaxis treatment to
victims of leptospirosis.
Alipayo also bared that their office will be
conducting the following: Mop-up immunization on Measle Vaccine with 100,000 iu
of Vitamin A for children six months to less than one year old; and MMR with
200,000 iu vitamin A for children one year old to less than five years old in
the evacuation centers. This is to prevent measles and possible outbreak in
evacuation centers.
DOH is also monitoring the Sanitation in the different
designated evacuation centers. "It is one of our concerns that’s why we
distributed jerry cans and Hyposol or Waterine to disinfect drinking water to
prevent Diarrhea," added Alipayo.
The DOH’s health message on water safety:
"If doubtful, boil your drinking water or disinfect with Aqua Tab or
Waterine." (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
TD Agaton displaces 11,104 families in Agnor
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – A total of 11,104
families in the province of Agusan del Norte are affected with the floodings
brought about by Tropical Depression Agaton.
Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante Matba who
chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) has
enforced a forced evacuation to all residents in low-lying areas of the
province.
According to Edgar Palarca, Jr., Community
Affairs Officer IV of the province, as of 11:30 a.m., a total of 36,862
individuals are now at the identified evacuation centers of the different
municipalities of the province.
As of 5p.m., the total families evacuated as per
PDRRMC record in the municipality of Jabonga now reached to 2,089; Las Nieves -
2,017; Santiago - 115; Buenavista - 1,293; Kitcharao - 462; Magallanes - 600;
Cabadbaran City - 1,099; Remedios T. Romualdez - 2,006; Tubay - 1,327; and Nasipit – 69.
Search and rescue operations of the PDRRMO
headed by officer Erma Suyo are still on going.
The province has been declared under the state
of calamity on Sunday, January 19, 2014 due to the massive floodings that the
municipalities are experiencing until this time. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Classes suspended in Surigao Sur due to TD
Agaton
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Two cities and 11
towns of Surigao del Sur have declared the suspensionof classes in all levels
both public and private schools on Monday due to continuous rains brought by
forecasted Tropical Depression Agaton (International name: Lingling).
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
Management (DRRM) operation center report said the cities of Bislig and Tandag,
and the towns of Lanuza, Cantilan, Carmen, Lingig, Madrid, Tago, San Miguel,
Bayabas, Carrascal, Tagbina and Hinatuan have already declared the suspension
of classes due to flashfloods as early as Sunday.
Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel on Sunday
evening has also declared the suspension of government work except those
concerned departments and volunteers in rescue and relief operations.
In Bislig City, employees in the city government
have resumed their work except those who are directly affected by floods in the
area.
Meanwhile, the town of San Miguel and some
barangays in Tago are still flooded as of Monday morning after Tago River
overflowed yesterday. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Tacloban: The team PIA Mindanao experience
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Jan. 20 (PIA) - This is
nightmare!
This is the first impression that enters the
mind of Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
Caraga Region regional
director Abner Caga
who was tasked
by the Presidential
Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma to extend communication
support to super
typhoon-devastated Eastern
Visayas Area.
Dir. Abner said what greeted their eyes when his
team, the Team Mindanao, set foot in Tacloban two weeks after Super Typhoon
Yolanda hit Tacloban and the rest of
Eastern Visayas on November 8, 2013 is beyond his imagination. While looking in
all directions, everything they
see were ruins
and remains of
even the strongest structure of the city. Along the
side of the roads were makeshift tents made of rotten lumbers and old plywood
serving as temporary shelters for the typhoon victims.
“What catches my attention was a kid, around
nine years old, sitting by the side of the road, looking down on the ground.
Slowly, I approached him and
mildly greeted him with a soft hello and a smile. He looked up at me with
blank, teary eyes, and slowly returns his focus on the ground. Stepping back, I
almost bump a middle aged woman, and after saying sorry, gather my courage and
ask her about the boy who just stared at me when I greeted him,” Dir. Abner
said.
He said the woman told him that the boy is the
only survivor in his family. His mother, a five and two years old brother and
sister, were not seen after the typhoon. Their house is nowhere to be found.
They just look after the boy, who sometimes eat when they invite him to eat,
but most of the time, look down at the ground, but no more tears to cry.
Almost everywhere, the same situation meets the
team. But even with the smell of dump and rotten garbage and human and animal
remains, the mission must go on.
Comforting themselves in the tents at night, the
team PIA brought with them a generator set, an FM radio transmitter and some
video showing materials. Dir. Abner said, in the midst of ruins, the only thing
that makes people aware that there is government helping them, the victims of
typhoon, and people giving their utmost assistance generously, is the FM radio
brought by team PIA.
With the generator set they brought, team PIA
maximized the use of its power by extending free charging of electronic
gadgets, rechargeable lamps and power storage device. Dir. Abner also organized
the media practitioners into one media group dubbed "One Media for
Tacloban" and gave them time slot in the radio in order for them to air their concerns, needs and
experiences.
“On our second night in Tacloban, we conducted
film showing. For the first time since we arrived, I hear children yelling with
joy to see the movie that we shown. Every night thereafter, the children were
waiting for us in order to see the film showing, which I believe the only
luxury they enjoy after the shocking attack of typhoon Yolanda,” Dir. Abner
said.
For the free charging of cellphones, Dir. Abner
said even in that very small way, we can see in the eyes of the beneficiaries
of free celphone charging the joy that they can contact their relatives and
friends and tell them they are lucky enough to survive the tragedy.
“Another situation that touched my heart is the
nine families sharing one tent in order that their children can sleep and enjoy
the luxury of two hours rest and privacy. After two or three hours, the mother
would awaken her children so another family could occupy the tent for another
three hours rest. I could feel the discomfort of the children when their mother
wake them up, but can do nothing except to give-in for another,” Dir. Abner
said.
The need of tent in the area made up the mind of
Dir. Abner to solicit for tents in Caraga Region and PIA regions in Mindanao
and vowed to go back to Tacloban to distribute the tents. “This, and what we
did in Tacloban, are our small, little ways to give and share our love and
heartfelt services to typhoon Yolanda victims,” Dir. Abner said.
(DMS/PIA-Caraga)
Mining companies assist in conducting rescue
operation
By Darryl P. Pinabacdao
SURIGAO CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Several mining
companies in Surigao del Norte have assisted in conducting rescue operations to
the barangays affected by flashfloods caused by Tropical Depression Agaton.
It was learned that Taganito HPAL Nickel
Corporation and Taganito Mining Corporation have assisted in conducting rescue
operations in the Municipality of Claver to around 500 families. They were
rescued from different barangays of Taganito, Hayangabon and Cagdianao residing
near the riverbanks, shoreline, landslide and flood prone areas.
The said families were evacuated to Taganito
Barangay Hall, Taganito Barangay Gym and Taganito Mining Corporation
Multi-Purpose Gym.
Relief goods were distributed to the evacuees
such as bottled water, rice and instant noodles. (DPP/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
RORO vessels resume trips as winds, waves calm
down
By Eugenio Lira, Jr.
SURIGAO CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – After opting to
stay at the port of Lipata due to strong winds and rough seas, in spite of an
order from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) directing them to resume operations
the other day, two vessels of the Montenegro shipping lines on Monday have
decided to sail for Leyte after the Surigao-Leyte channel calmed down, port
authorities said.
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Surigao Port
Manager Isidro Butaslac, Jr. said that RORO vessels M/V Maria Vanessa and M/V
Maria Felisa made their first voyages at around 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.,
respectively, after assessing that the Surigao-Leyte channel was already
navigable.
“We’re glad that shipping has already resumed
its operations and would bridge again the distance between Mindanao and Visayas
all the way to Luzon as far as trade and commerce is concerned,” Butaslac said.
Earlier, in spite of a PCG order directing the
RORO vessels to resume its operations on January 19, M/V Maria Vanessa and M/V
Felisa refused to navigate the Surigao-Leyte channel citing safety concerns due
to prevalent strong winds and big waves. The move resulted to cancellations of
its scheduled trips bound for Southern Leyte, Butaslac disclosed.
PP/Superintendent Froilan Caturla, port police
station commander, expressed relief on the resumption of shipping operations on
the Surigao-Leyte route saying “the more than P75-million worth of various
cargoes earlier reported as stranded in Lipata Port have already been
transported to Leyte all the way to its destinations.
“We’re happy on this development and looks
forward for the smooth operations of our shipping companies,” Caturla said.
He had earlier estimated the stranded cargoes as
valued for more than P75-million broken down as follows: perishable goods
P20,050,000.00, livestock cargo P28,000,000.00, marine products P18,000,000.00,
construction materials 4,400,000.00 and
heavy equipments P5,000,000.00.
Caturla said that as of 7:00 a.m. on Monday they
recorded a total of 115 vehicles and 1,235 stranded passengers inside the Port
of Lipata. (PPA/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD Caraga allots P4M of family packs to TD
Agaton affected LGUs
By Stella Maris V. Barcelon
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) - The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga has alloted a total
cost of Php 4,092,419.92 which includes 15,233 pieces of family packs to the 16
municipalities in the region affected by Tropical Depression Agaton.
The relief goods were augmented to the following
municipalities, namely: Las Nieves, Jabonga, RTR, Tubay, and Butuan City for
the Agusan del Norte; Bunawan of Agusan del Sur; the municipalities of
Basilisa, Libjo, Tubajon, San Jose, Cagdiano, Loreto and Dinagat for the
Province of Dinagat Islands. The municipality of Mainit and Surigao City of
Surigao del Norte Province also requested augmentation of relief goods, while
only the municipality of Tago requested for augmentation in Surigao del Sur.
In addition, DSWD Caraga has provided burial and
cash assistance amounting to Php 70,000.00 to the families of six reported dead
and two injured in the municipality of Cagdiano, Province of Dinagat Islands.
Assistant regional director for Operation Mita
Gupana-Lim said that the agency is ready to augment relief goods at any given
time to support the request of Local Government Units (LGUs).
The province of Agusan del Norte is now under
State of Calamity due to the continuous rain brought by TD Agaton that caused
floods in most areas in the province.
DSWD Caraga Quick Response Team (QRT) will
render 24 hours duty. Municipal Action Team (MAT) leaders, community-based
workers and other project-based staff are already mobilized to continuously monitor
for updates on the situation in their respective areas. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
