State of calamity in Jolo

MANILA, Philippines — A state of calamity was declared Saturday in Jolo, Sulu, where floods triggered by torrential rains have killed seven people and displaced at least 1,140 families since Thursday, authorities said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that continuous rains in parts of Mindanao have brought about a second wave of landslide and flood disasters and raised the death toll to 21 and the initial worth of damage in Caraga region alone pegged at P418.14 million.

Mayor Hussin U. Amin, who declared his town under a state of calamity, said the potable water source for his constituents has already been contaminated as thousands of them remain sheltered at temporary evacuation centers.

Even some members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and families were counted among the evacuees dependent entirely on provisions given by the national and local government.

Among the latest fatalities were four people who were buried alive in a landslide that struck Surigao del Sur.

NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos identified them as Nenita Corpuz, 57, and Julie Culapu, 47, both from Cantilan town; Isagani Borja, 25, from Marihatag town; and Aladin Corporal from Madrid town.

Another fatality was identified in the same report as Teresita Acion, 62, who was initially reported missing also in a landslide in Agusan del Norte.

Based on the latest NDRRMC report, heavy rains and big waves occurred along the shorelines of Jolo in Sulu, affecting worst the nine villages of Walled City, Alat, Chinese Pier, Asturias, Takut-Takut, Tulay, Town Proper, San Raymundo and Kasangayan.



A total of 1,140 families or 4,560 persons have been affected with 30 houses and pathways destroyed.

Ramos said as a result of the disaster that hit the coastal town, which is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group, some members of the homegrown terror group and their families are now seeking temporary shelter in the evacuation centers.

“Pati mga Abu Sayyaf at pamilya nila nasa evacuation centers na at kumakin ng gift pack ng gobyerno. Okay lang ’yun dahil mga Pilipino din sila, kailangan tulungan,” Ramos said, adding: “Mas maganda na ang nasa evacuation centers sila instead na nasa bundok.”

The disaster official said if there is anything good from the situation in the flood-affected provinces in the south, especially Sulu, is that the government is able to show the people it does not discriminate anyone especially in extending much needed assistance.

“Nakikita nila ngayon sama-sama ang LGUs, armed forces, even the American troops in Mindanao, pati mga kapulisan at Coast Guard, lahat sama-samang tumutulong sa mga tao. Malaki ang impact niyan sa mata ng mga kababayan natin sa Sulu, both civilians and yun mga members ng Abu sayyaf. They can see may tatak ng gobyerno, ng DSWD yun tulong na dumadating sa kanila,” said Ramos.

He said American troops from the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF) are have not left the area and continue to join local troops in providing help to the affected people.

He added a Philippine Navy vessel left Zamboanga City on Friday night to bring more relief goods to Jolo as the resources initially prepositioned by the Departments of Health (DoH) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have all been used up and needed to be augmented.

Ramos said aside from Jolo, also badly affected by rains is Caraga, particularly the towns surrounding Mainit Lake.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) will donate P50 million worth of medicine to the government during disasters.

PHAP, which is composed of many of the country’s medicine distributors, said Saturday it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the NDRRMC, under the “Gamot Agad Program.”

Under the MoA, PHAP will donate about 10 million worth of medicines in the next five years to the government through its corporate social responsibility arm, PHAPCares.

PHAPCares Managing Director Dr. Edgar Posasdas said the donation aims to immediately provide people affected by disasters the necessary medicines to avoid casualties.

Ramos said the first batch of the medicine will immediately be delivered in Mindanao, particularly Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, which were recently devastated by torrential rains and floods.

In a related development, the “Gawad Kalinga,” in partnership with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond), also extended relief assistance to flood victims in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte on Friday and Saturday, said Col. Efraim Oropel, Army camp commander based at Bancasi here.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported yesterday that public works infrastructure in the Visayas and Mindanao regions are getting heavy pounding from the erratic weather disturbances, inflicting millions of pesos in damages.

source: Manila Bulletin