Total loss: 2 kids, P182 M lost
WRATH OF MINA
NON-STOP rains brought by Typhoon “Mina” left 21 towns and three cities flooded last week as well as caused landslides, which resulted in the death of two children.
Even as only typhoon Signal no. 1 was raised over Pangasinan at the height of the typhoon the previous weekend, several days of rains until the early part of last week caused major river tributaries to overflow and left several flood-prone areas in water.
The rains also weakened hillsides in San Fabian town, killing two children after their house was swept by rolling mud. The children from Barangay Rabon were identified as siblings Reajen Bautista, 6, and John Rey. Their parents were injured but survived.
Losses in agriculture reached P137.9 million while infrastructure damage was estimated at P44.2, according to a partial report compiled by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).
PDRRMC Spokesperson Avenix Arenas said agricultural losses include rice, high value commercial crop, fishery, livestock and poultry.
Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said most of the palay that were submerged were still in the vegetative stage.
In aquaculture, Moya reported that some 15 hectares of bangus fishponds costing some P300,000 were destroyed.
Arenas said the damages may still increase once reports from other affected towns are submitted.
Aside from San Fabian, the other heavily affected low-lying areas were Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Manaoag, San Jacinto, Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Laoac, San Nicolas, and the cities of Urdaneta, Dagupan and San Carlos.
Calasiao declared a state of calamity on August 31 as its public market remained under knee-high water and several areas remained flooded.
Classes for the primary and secondary level were suspended in Dagupan on Wednesday, as many parts of the city and schools remained flooded.
Binalonan had the most number of affected families at 1,260 out of the total 1,960, according to the PDRRMC.
Several evacuation centers were set up in Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, San Jacinto, Dagupan City and Urdaneta City, providing temporary shelter to 431 families.
As of August 30, 348 of the families have returned home.
A total of 10 houses were totally damaged, while 14 were partially damaged.
Governor Amado Espino Jr., meanwhile, stressed that coordination of provincial agencies with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils were done without let-up.
Rescue and relief operations were conducted in the affected areas of Macayug in Mangaldan, Binday and Mabilao in San Fabian, and Sto. Tomas in San Jacinto.
FISHERMEN SAVED
In Infanta town, the reported 30 missing fishermen who went out to sea before the typhoon have returned home safe.
The fishermen, who left on a fishing expedition near the Scarborough Shoal west of Zambales on August 21, were reported missing last week after typhoon “Mina”.
Families of the fishermen reported their missing kin to Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez who, in turn, relayed the message to the Office of the Governor and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
Just as the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council was mobilizing the rescue boat “Islander” of the Philippine Coast Guard on August 31, 27 of the fishermen had already returned safely.
The other three managed to return just before the typhoon battered the province.
The fishermen reportedly sought shelter in the Scarborough Shoal when typhoon “Mina” passed and stayed there for several days before heading home with their catch. (with report from DOS/PIA Pangasinan/PIO)
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