Tropical Storm Basyang has left insignificant effects across Western Visayas, with just certain areas in the region affected by flooding.
Civil Defense Regional Director and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chair Raul Fernandez, in an interview on Monday, Feb. 9, said flooding was reported in Sigma and Roxas City in Capiz, and there were displaced families in Iloilo, Antique and Aklan.
The Disaster Response Operations Management Information and Communication (DROMIC) report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showed that 15 local government units, covering 67 barangays, were affected by the weather disturbance.
The report said 7,945 families, equivalent to 24,638 individuals were affected, of which 18 families or 43 individuals sought shelter in two evacuation centers.
Fernandez said 1,292 travelers were stranded in Caticlan, Aklan and Iloilo ports due to the no-sail policy when a typhoon signal is hoisted.
The DSWD said in its latest report that it has so far released over P1.2 million worth of assistance to the affected families.
As of 11 a.m. on Feb. 7, the DSWD still has P142.27 million in standby resources consisting of P3 million in cash and P139.27 million in food and non-food items.
Meanwhile, Fernandez thanked the local DRRM councils and the local government unit for their proactive response.
He said hourly updates from the state weather bureau, particularly from its upgraded Iloilo Doppler Radar Station, was also a big help.
“The updates they gave us, we sent to our local DRRMCs for them to act accordingly,” he added.
Despite the minimal effects, Fernandez said there is still a need to look into plans to permanently relocate families in hazard-prone areas, especially those living near the rivers and prone to landslides.PNA
