Heavy rains displace 1,700, damage 27 homes in WV

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Mariela Angella Oladive

At least 27 houses were damaged and more than 1,700 individuals were affected by flooding and heavy rains in Western Visayas caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical cyclones Mirasol and Nando.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 6 (DSWD-6) said six houses were totally destroyed and 21 were partially damaged across the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique.

Four of the totally damaged homes were in Leon, Iloilo, while the others were in Roxas City, Capiz, and Pototan, Iloilo.

Most of the partially damaged houses were in New Lucena, Iloilo with 18, followed by Leon with two, and Tibiao, Antique with one.

Flooding affected 32 barangays across 10 local government units, displacing at least 1,709 individuals or 477 families.

Of the total, 251 people from 88 families are currently staying in 10 evacuation centers, while 785 individuals from 190 families have taken shelter with friends or relatives.

Oton, Iloilo reported the most barangays affected at 10, while Tubungan, Iloilo had the highest number of displaced families at 182.

In Iloilo City, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that flooding occurred in 11 barangays across five districts.

In Mandurriao, the barangays of Oñate De Leon, Calahunan, and Hibao-an Sur experienced water levels between 20 and 37 inches.

In Jaro, Camalig experienced flooding that later subsided, while Balantang remained inundated.

In Arevalo, knee-deep flooding was reported in Mohon, and high water levels also hit Sooc, Sto. Domingo, and Sta. Cruz.

In La Paz, Lopez Jaena Sur and Divinagracia were submerged in 8 inches of floodwaters.

Authorities said six families or 20 individuals in the city were directly affected, with five families or 16 individuals evacuated.

The DSWD-6 confirmed that a total of 308 families or 1,197 individuals were affected region-wide, based on its Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report as of September 22.

The agency said it has already distributed PHP 136,009 worth of assistance to affected families and local governments.

Overall humanitarian assistance, including support from LGUs and NGOs, reached PHP 151,009.

DSWD-6 said it still has PHP 116.35 million in available relief resources, composed of PHP 2.79 million in standby funds and PHP 113.57 million in food and non-food items.

The agency said assessments and validations of affected areas are ongoing.