THE town of Santa Ana in Cagayan has been placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of typhoon “Neneng” which will continue to bring rains to some areas despite its exit from the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday night.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sanchez Mira town, also in Cagayan, is considering declaring state of calamity.
The Santa Ana town council made the declaration on the recommendation of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council so as to hasten the town’s rehabilitation and the delivery of assistance to affected residents.
Marion Miranda, the town’s disaster risk reduction and management officer, said 15 barangays of Santa Ana town were affected by flooding.
He said Cagayan began experiencing rains last Saturday, a day before Neneng made landfall in Cagayan.
He also said many residents were displaced by Neneng but did not give figures. He said the evacuees have returned to their homes due to improved weather condition.
On damage to agriculture, he said it might not be that extensive as many rice farmers have harvested their crops before previous tropical depression “Maymay” and Neneng struck.
Ruelie Rapsing, head of the Cagayan provincial risk reduction and management office, said 60,000 people from 18 municipalities of the province were affected by flooding.
As of yesterday, Rapsing said, only three towns have flooded areas — Ballesteros, Abulug and Pamplona. Most of the evacuees have returned to their homes, he said.
Rapsing also said only one was reported injured in the province due to Neneng, a 34-year-old man who was brought to a hospital after his bicycle crashed due to slippery road.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said at least 1,200 families or some 4,000 persons have been displaced in the regions of Ilocos (I), Cagayan Valley (II) and Cordillera (CAR).
It said 1,261 families (4,141 persons) were displaced, including 736 families (2,294 persons) who are staying in 67 evacuation centers and 525 families (1,847 persons) who are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.
The DSWD said 26,042 families or 92,892 persons from 269 barangays in Regions I, II, and CAR have been affected by the weather disturbance.
Around P615,000 worth of assistance has been provided to the affected families.
Neneng made landfall in Calayan Island in Cagayan early morning Sunday as a severe tropical storm. It intensified into a typhoon before noon on Sunday.
Neneng exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday night but its trough or extension will continue to bring rains in the Ilocos region, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). — With Jocelyn Montemayor
