CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — About 2,000 villagers were evacuated Friday, through either preemptive or forced evacuation in Isabela’s four coastal towns of Palanan, Divilacan, Dinapigue and Maconacon.
Heavy rains and winds had prompted the Palanan local leaders and police to forcefully evacuate some villagers and brought nearly 500 people at the town center, Palanan police chief, Police Senior Insp. Ronald Gaban, said.
In Maconacon, at least 1,008 people from 295 families were brought to evacuation centers, Mayor Lycelle Kate Vicente said.
A total of 50 families were evacuated in Dinapigue town, said Mayor Reynaldo Derije.
Some 50 families were initially brought to Divilacan evacuation centers, said Mayor Venturito Bulan.
About 141,699-hectare palay farms would likely be damaged by the inclement weather in Isabela as 21,000 hectares under maturing stage and 78,000 hectares under reproductive stage failed to be harvested, agriculture department records showed.
Typhoon signal No. 3 was raised in Isabela as “Ompong” is expected to make landfall in Cagayan-Isabela on Saturday. (Bill Visaya/PNA)
