ZAMBOANGA CITY — The City Council, in a special session on Thursday, has approved a resolution declaring Zamboanga City under the state of calamity.
Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde said the resolution was approved on recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) as this city has been experiencing inclement weather condition the past five days triggering flashfloods in several areas.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported that 3,666 families with 18,330 individuals were displaced by flash flood that inundated 17 of this city’s 98 barangays.
This city has been experiencing heavy downpour coupled with strong winds since Sunday brought about by inclement weather condition triggered by intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and with the entry of Typhoon Paolo into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Personnel of the CSWDO have provided assistance and distributed relief goods to the families displaced by the flashflood.
The CSWDO established community kitchens to cater to the food needs of the displaced families staying in evacuation centers.
The CSWDO said that 158 houses were totally destroyed while 327 partially damaged.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said that seven people have perished.
Of the seven, Apolinario said four of them drowned; one electrocuted; and, two died when a fig (balete) tree crashed on a semi-concrete house.
The City Engineer’s Office reported that PhP15 million to PhP20 million infrastructures consisting of slope protection, shoreline protection and bridges have been destroyed.
The Office of the City Agriculturist reported that PhP45.7 million worth of crops and fisheries as well as poultry and livestock were damaged.
The Office of the City Agriculturist said these consisted of 310 hectares of rice fields; 477 hectares of corn farms; 144 hectares of land planted to vegetables; 200 hectares of seaweed; and, 857 hectares of fishpond.
It said that some PhP30 million irrigation infrastructures were destroyed while 1,150 farmers were affected.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has mobilized the resources of the local government to provide assistance to the affected families.
Salazar spearheaded the distribution of relief goods to flashflood victims just after the City Council placed this city under the state of calamity. (PNA)
