Storm Pablo affects more than 1,000 families, destroys 37 houses

OVER 1,000 families were affected and 37 houses were destroyed in the Province of Cebu because of typhoon Pablo.

Based on the records of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) as of 5 p.m. yesterday, 3,443 individuals were affected and 541 were evacuated.

A total of 70 houses were either damaged or destroyed.

The town of San Fernando has the highest number of person affected, where there were 1,800 persons, 209 of whom were evacuated.

According to PDRRMO records, other affected towns in the South were Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Badian and Alegria.

In the northern part of Cebu, PDRRMO listed Sogod, Liloan, Catmon and Borbon as the towns affected by the typhoon.

Passable

Provincial Engineer Adolfo Quiroga said provincial roads are passable from Metro Cebu to Santander.

However, the seawall and boardwalk of Boljoon were damaged, while a waiting shed in Alcoy collapsed because of strong winds.

In Oslob, the seawall in barangay Mainit was damaged due to big waves.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said there was no great damage in Cebu compared to other provinces.

She instructed the Provincial Engineering Office and the contractors for a clearing operation in the different towns.

Relief goods were distributed to the different local government units by the Capitol, with the help of the Ramon Abotiz Foundation Inc. and another private group.

The governor directed the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office to provide immediate assistance to the family of the fatalities.

Direct report

Governor Garcia coordinated with the mayors in the different municipalities so Capitol can get a direct report.

“I was talking to all of the mayors southwest and southeast to get a direct report from them, but we were not answered by Samboan. Even the municipal social welfare office did not answer,” the governor told reporters.

Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren said there were crops and farms that were damaged, but he cannot yet determine the cost of damage.

Guaren said three houses in coastal barangays were destroyed.

Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Cesante said families who evacuated at the community college building and schools returned to their houses yesterday.

About 10 families were left in the evacuation center, as their houses were destroyed.

There were 166 families evacuated, although most of them voluntarily left their houses in the coastal barangays.

Eighty percent of the Dalaguete’s electricity is now restored, after the town experienced a blackout.

Boljoon and Malabuyoc experienced a blackout since Tuesday. (Sun Star)