Continuous heavy rains flood eight Leyte towns

By GAY B. GASPAY (PIA 8)
January 26, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Continuous outpouring of heavy rains over the weekend has flooded eight (8) Leyte towns damaging agricultural plants and affected several households, the Leyte Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council informed.

The eight Leyte towns affected result came about after the Leyte Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chaired by Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla dispatched immediately a team to monitor and assess the extent of damage brought about by the 3-day continuous heavy rain outpouring last January 18, 19 and 20.

According to Leyte PDCC Vice-Chair & Executive Officer Atty. Ralph Iriarte, the eight Leyte municipalities affected by flood were the towns of Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Pastrana, Tabon-tabon, Mayorga, Dagami and Burauen.

The installation of rain gauges and early warning device done last year by PAG-ASA National personnel, has greatly helped in warning  the constituents of said barangays if their area has reached its critical category stage where in they were immediately advised to evacuate to a designated evacuation place, he added.

In Palo, Leyte, barangay Cangumbang and a portion of Brgy. San Antonio experienced a knee-deep flood damaging P350,000 worth of agricultural crops. Leyte PDCC officials immediately ordered the utilization of rubber boats to evacuate residents of said barangay to a safer grounds.

In Tanauan, Leyte, on the other hand, Brgys. San Isidro, Guindag-an, Sta. Elena, Sacme and Picas were flooded while flooding in Burauen, Leyte affected Barangays Kalipayan, Villa Rosas, Maghubas, Candahunan, Buri and Paitan damaging their ricefields while in Brgys. San Jose West & East, Sitio Malitbog and Maabab also in Burauen, the flooding has affected several households.

The Leyte PDCC noted that the January 7 to January 11,  4-day heavy rains early this year resulted to no damages incurred after the team monitored around the five districts of Leyte, Iriarte further said.