ILOILO CITY – A total of 15 houses in two municipalities of Iloilo province were destroyed over the weekend due to the southwest monsoon (habagat) enhanced by typhoon Ompong, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Monday.
In an interview, PDRRMO head Jerry Bionat said the affected families are still temporarily staying with their relatives.
In Tigbauan town, 10 houses in the coastal villages of Buyu-an and Namocon were totally damaged.
Some three houses were also totally damaged and two were partially damaged in the coastal villages of Tiolas and Lawigan in San Joaquin town.
“Although the typhoon did not directly hit our province, the strong winds and big waves brought by the southwest monsoon destroyed their houses,” Bionat said, adding that they are still consolidating the data of the cost of damage to the properties.
Bionat assured that all affected family members are safe because preemptive evacuation has been implemented.
“We advised those families who are living in the coastal barangays to evacuate for their security and safety,” he said.
Rommel Miciano, municipal DRRM officer of Tigbauan town, suggested that families should build their houses in a safe area of their town.
“They are experiencing the same problem when there is storm surge coming because they still go back to their area. They cannot leave their livelihood (fishing) and maybe because they do not have a lot to transfer to,” he said.
Meanwhile, Elvin Secreto, municipal DRRM officer of San Joaquin town, wanted the affected families to relocate, noting they are now laying down the plans on how to help these families.
Aside from the destroyed houses, Bionat said “Ompong” had not caused any further damage in the province. ( Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
