The island province of Catanduanes is being beaten by the intensity of Ulysses since this morning. Fierce winds brought about by the typhoon practically ripped off rooftops of houses and schools made of galvanized iron and rubberized tarpaulin.
As of 8 p.m., Catanduanes is still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No 3. The provincial government assured that it is monitoring the status of the weather.
“Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Cordillera Administrative Region, mainland Cagayan Valley, Catanduanes, Marinduque, the northern portion of Mindoro Provinces, and the rest of Central Luzon,” are expected, according to PAGASA’s forecast.
Residents of Barangay Pajo, San Isidro were immediately evacuated with the rising water level of a river in the area. People living in Barangay Igang were also transferred to the only evacuation center in the vicinity while others ran for safety to more stable houses. The river in Barangay Hinipaan in Bagamanoc overflowed due to heavy rains, while Barangay Rawis in Virac is bracing for a possible storm surge.
Locals who were victims of super Typhoon Rolly are now worried on how to start from scratch as they have not been receiving relief goods since the previous cyclones.
Some residents of Barangay Igang expressed disappointment over the distribution of spoiled relief goods. The barangay chief said the rotten rice is now being fed to hogs since it is no longer safe for consumption.
“Sana kung magbibigay, i-check muna kasi ang kawawa kaming mga captain at saka mga kagawad ko kasi kami ang minumura ng mga residente (If they will give us [relief goods], they should check it first because the captains and their council take all the brunt from the residents),” Barangay Capt. Rony Clemente lamented.
“Ang report sa akin ng MSWD (Municipal Social Welfare and Development), that’s only a volume of 1 sack of rice. Ano ‘yung mga pre-position natin na bigas before the typhoon? Ano na na-stuck siguro at nabasa (The report of the MSWD is that’s only a volume of 1 sack of rice. What were the prepositioned rice before the typhoon? It might have been stuck and soaked in water),” Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua explained. – Report from Ryan Lesigues