THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday that communication lines with their offices in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Ilocos Norte, all directly hit by supertyphoon Lawin (Haima), have remained open.
Despite the strong winds brought by Lawin, NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan said coordination with their local operation centers are continuous through landlines as cellphone signals were intermittent.
“Maraming infrastructure ang nasira dahil sa hangin. May mga bubong na nilipad. Actually kasama ang operation center ng OCD (Office of the Civil Defense) region 2, kung saan nabasag ang mga salamin at nilipad ang mga bubong, damaged ang buong operations center,” she said.
“May report din na may poste at malaking punong kahoy na bumagsak. Nagkaroon ng problem sa kuryente. May problem din sa cell phone signals, pero meron naman contact through landline and radio,” Marasigan added.
Meanwhile, four were reported dead in the provinces of La Trinidad, Benguet and Isabela.
Benguet Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said two construction workers were killed due to a landslide in Puguis Longlong, La Trinidad, Benguet.
In Isabela, the PDRRMO said a CAFGU member was killed after being hit by a flying debris at the height of the typhoon while a 70-year-old man died after having a heart attack while inside an evacuation center in the municipality of Sto. Tomas.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said they are yet to distribute the pre-positioned relief goods to the affected population, particularly in the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte due to several impassable roads.
“Even bago pa dumating ang bagyo may mga pre-positioned relief goods na tayo kaya lang medyo nakakaranas tayo ng problema sa actual distribution dahil sa mga bahang daan. Dapat ma-clear ang roads para makapag-distribute na para din ma-asses na ang actual damage,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said.
Marasigan said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already had pre-positioned heavy duty equipment for the clearing operations, expected to begin within the day.
Isabela Governor Faustino Dy said the towns of Sto. Tomas, Cabagan and San Pablo were isolated since Wednesday evening due to flooding, but clearing operation is ongoing.
Isabela PDRRMO said roads along Cawayan City Echague, Sta. Maria, Reyna Marcedes, Sto. Tomas and Ilagan were also impassable due to floodings.
Marasigan said if the weather permits, they will conduct an aerial assessment in the affected areas. (Sunnex)
