Crising exits, leaves PHP112-M damage in Western Visayas

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Monsoon rains continue to affect Western Visayas following the exit of Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name: Wipha) from the Philippine Area of Responsibility earlier this week, leaving PHP112 million in infrastructure damage across three provinces.

According to Situational Report No. 9 from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), as of 10 p.m. on Monday, July 21, a total of nine structures were damaged—six in Antique (PHP9.04 million), two in Aklan (PHP43.83 million), and one in Capiz (PHP60 million).

The report also noted 179 damaged houses across the region, with 150 partially damaged and 29 totally destroyed.

These include 93 damaged homes in Aklan (89 partial, four total), 64 in Antique (44 partial, 20 total), and 22 in Iloilo province (17 partial, five total).

Citing the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report, a total of PHP8.91 million in assistance has been distributed to 12,716 affected families.

The assistance includes aid to 915 families in Aklan (PHP561,328), 5,987 in Antique (PHP4.47 million), 2,234 in Capiz (PHP1.33 million), and 3,580 in Iloilo province (PHP2.55 million).

Suspensions

Following earlier declarations from local government units (LGUs), Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday, July 22, issued Memorandum No. 90 suspending all work and classes at all levels in several areas of the country, including all five provinces in Western Visayas.

The memorandum directed agencies providing basic, vital, and health-related services to remain fully operational, while those not covered were encouraged to adopt alternative work arrangements.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas said Tuesday that the city government will comply with Bersamin’s directive, while essential offices will remain operational for emergency response.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center’s Situational Report No. 9 recorded 40 barangays affected by flooding, with water having subsided in 29 and 11 still experiencing flooding.

A total of 646 families—comprising 1,820 individuals—had been evacuated, though many have since begun returning home.