A report by dzMM radio Monday evening quoted Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez as saying that members of the city council convened Monday afternoon and issued a resolution placing said villages -- where bunkhouses and tent constructed for victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) were destroyed -- under state of calamity.
The resolution was supported by Romualdez, according to the report.
Earlier, Catanduanes, Albay, and Camarines Sur were also placed under state of calamity after the provinces were hit by Hagupit.
Placing areas under a state of calamity will enable local government units to use the Quick Response Fund, which is part of the 2014 Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, and rehabiliate areas and provide assitance to residents affected by a weather disturbance.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that some 259,675 families or 1,186,961 persons were affected by "Ruby" in Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol Region, V (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas) and Caraga. Of these, some 226,605 families or 1,034,464 people were evacuated.
Around 1,953 passengers, 74 rolling cargoes, 429 vessels and four motor boats are still stranded in various ports of the country while 184 domestic flights and 24 international flights were also cancelled due to bad weather.
The airports in Legaspi, Marbate City, Marinduque, San Jose, Virac, Busuanga, Plaridel, and Puerto Princesa are now open for operations but landing and take-off are subject to prevailing aerodrome weather conditions
Power outages were reported in 17 provinces of Regions IV-A, IV-B, V, VI and VIII, while Globe and Smart networks are currently down in some parts of Leyte and Eastern Samar.
Power has been restored in the affected areas in Romblon and in the municipalities of San Fernando, Gainza, Camaligan, Pasacao, Pamplona and Ragay, all in Camarines Sur.
NDRRMC also said that nine roads were closed to traffic due to flooding, landslide and falling trees in Regions V and VIII; while four road sections are not passable to light vehicles in Leyte and San Fernando, Romblon due to flooding; and eight road sections (five in Region V and three in Region VIII) are hardly passable due to flooding, landslides, uprooted trees and toppled electric posts.
It added that Buenavista Bridge in Barangay Lilukin, Buenavista, Quezon province is not passable due to the high level of water while four areas in Quezon province namely Pagbilao, Pitogo, Barangay Almacen in Unisan and Panaon also in Unisan were flooded.
The total cost of government assistance for the affected families in Regions V, VI, VII and Caraga has reached Php 60,718,256.50.
source: interaksyon.com
