HEAVY RAINS WREAK HAVOC: Heavy rains leave 3 missing, PHP52M damage in W. Visayas

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Three people remain missing while infrastructure damage has exceeded PHP52 million as relentless monsoon rains — intensified by Tropical Cyclone Crising — wreaked havoc across Western Visayas over the past week.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6 reported that all three missing individuals are residents of Antique province.

Two are from Barangay Bacalan, Sebaste, while the third is from Tobias Fornier.

They were swept away by flash floods following continuous heavy rains that began on July 17.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 Information Officer Tina Illustre-Mayor said the two Sebaste residents were reportedly asleep in a makeshift cottage when they were carried away by rising river waters.

The third missing individual, a farmer, was last seen crossing a rice field near a river when the floodwaters surged.

In its July 20 report, RDRRMC-6 noted that Aklan and Antique sustained the most damage, with estimated infrastructure losses reaching PHP52.87 million.

Antique reported PHP9 million in damage, while Aklan accounted for more than PHP44 million.

“Most of these infrastructures are road sections and bridges destroyed by landslides and floods — particularly barangay roads that experienced soil collapse, landslides, or road slips,” Illustre-Mayor said.

The storm affected 29,357 families or 103,035 individuals from 300 barangays in the region.

At least 530 families (1,740 individuals) are currently housed in 42 evacuation centers, while 523 families (1,957 individuals) are receiving assistance outside shelters.

Antique recorded the highest number of affected families at 22,559, followed by Capiz with 4,428, Aklan with 1,583, and Iloilo with 787.

In Aklan alone, 431 families or 1,219 individuals were preemptively evacuated.

Illustre-Mayor said the affected families include those hit by flooding, landslides, or stranded due to impassable roads caused by continuous heavy rain.

“Most of them were affected by flooding, especially in Antique, which also experienced landslides in upland barangays,” she added.

Authorities also reported 176 damaged houses across Aklan (93), Antique (63), and Iloilo (20).

At least 23 road sections and five bridges were affected, though 22 roads and two bridges are now passable.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 has distributed PHP16 million in relief aid, including family food packs and non-food items.

The agency also maintains over PHP128 million in prepositioned resources and a standby fund of PHP2.79 million to support ongoing response operations.

Illustre-Mayor reminded the public to remain alert and heed advisories, noting that some residents opted not to evacuate due to work or personal reasons.

“Be very vigilant. Listen to legitimate advisories from authorized agencies and credible news sources,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of preparedness, including securing water, food, batteries, and flashlights.