ILOILO CITY – The municipality of Oton, Iloilo is under a state of calamity due to flood caused by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by typhoon “Goring.”
A MASSIVE flood hits Oton town, Iloilo province due to the southwest monsoon and a typhoon. (Oton MDRRMO)
Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr. said that the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) approved his request to declare a state of calamity in Oton which was hit by its worst flooding incident in almost 30 years.
The Oton SB led by Vice Mayor Jose Neil Olivares held a special session on Friday, September 1, to approve the declaration.
Fusin said on Saturday, September 2, that the state of calamity declaration enables the local government unit (LGU) to utilize its Quick Response Fund.
Data from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said 23 out of the 37 barangays in Oton were affected by flood.
More than 8,000 residents were displaced by flood and some areas had waist-deep water.
Flood damaged palay worth more than P8.7 million and affected more than 500 farmers.
Damage does not yet include other high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries and Fusin said it could be higher as officials are still collating data.