The Province of Albay is left with no choice but to brace for the possible onslaught of tropical storm Ulysses despite having depleted calamity funds due to various typhoons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The local government of Albay said strong weather disturbances usually hit the area during the latter part of the year. However, the challenge has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Dumating itong Quinta, dumating pa itong Rolly, at hindi pa tapos ang kwento (Quinta made its landfall here and was followed by Rolly, and the story is not yet over),” Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara shared.
Based on the 5:00 PM weather bulletin of PAGASA, Ulysses has intensified into a tropical storm at 2:00 PM of Monday and “is likely to reach Severe Tropical Storm category within 24 hours and may reach Typhoon category on Wednesday.”
“A landfall over Bicol Region – Quezon area on Thursday is likely at this time,” it stated.
BIchara expressed concern over the dwindling funds of the province which has hardly recovered from the health emergency and series of calamities.
“Depleted na so siguro mga 20M na lang sa’kin… We are not yet done with November. December kasi ito talaga ang typhoon season namin (The [calamity fund] is already depleted, with only around 20M… We are not yet done with November. December is really our typhoon season),” Bichara added.
Some areas in the province are still experiencing brownout since the landfall of super Typhoon Rolly while several houses are still roofless and undergoing repair. Residents who lost their houses and those who live in flood, lahar flow, and landslide prone areas are in need.
Assistance have been pouring in from local donors and other countries such as Australia and Spain have already reached Albay.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson said they have “released another two and a half million pesos worth of hygiene kits for women and kids.”
The casualties of typhoon Rolly in Albay has reached 12, including four in Malinao, one in Daraga, five in Guinobatan, one in Polangui, and one in Tabaco. Four are currently missing. – Report from Eunice Samonte
