LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – This city marked the 18th anniversary of super typhoon “Reming” (international name “Durian”) on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Residents of Barangay Padang who survived the onslaught of Reming on Nov. 30, 2006 trooped to the memorial shrine to offer prayers to victims.
Anfe Baleno, 45, said that the tragedy is still fresh in her mind.
PEOPLE of Legazpi City remember the 18th anniversary of super typhoon 'Reming' on Nov. 30, 2024.
Baleno, who was 27 when Reming struck, said there is so much lesson to be learned from the howler.
"Madami kaming natutunan. Dahil kay Reming naging mas matatag ang aming paniniwala sa Poong Maykapal. Sa tuwing may bagyo, hindi na kami naghihintay na pagsabihan pa ng gobyerno, imbes kaagad na kaming lumilikas," Baleno said.
(We learned so many things from Reming. The super typhoon strengthened our faith in God. We evacuate immediately and would never wait for the government to tell us to when a typhoon approaches)
More than 100 individuals were killed, more than 200 remain missing, and hundreds were injured when lahar from Mayon Volcano triggered by Reming swamped Barangay Padang.
Mayor Alfredo Garbin Jr. here said that the commemoration is very important to every resident of Barangay Padang and the people of this city.
Garbin said Reming taught the people of Albay to be resilient.
"Hindi natin malimutan ang eksperyensiya ng bagyong Reming. But having said that, the experience brought us sadness and at the same time spirit of hope and strength. Sa ngayon ang ating lungsod ang ating probinsiya ay naging matatag at naging champion pa ng disaster risk prevention and mitigation," Garbin said.
(We won’t forget our experience from Reming. But having said that, the experience brought us sadness and at the same time spirit of hope and strength. Due to Reming, our city and province have become strong and a champion in disaster risk prevention and mitigation)
Garbin said proof that they have learned from Reming is when 100 percent of the population at risk to different hazards were evacuated to safer places during super typhoon “Pepito” (international name “Man-yi) last month.
"I would say, it would never happen again. We learned too much from Reming," Garbin said.
Provincial board member and Association of Barangay Captains-Albay president Hisham Ismail said that the provincial government continues to implement projects to mitigate flash floods from Mayon Volcano.
Ismail said that the provincial government is studying ways to make the people of Albay safe during disasters.
Residents of Barangay Padang and neighboring barangays kilos of rice from Garbin and Ako Bicol party-list led by Rep. Zaldy Co which initiated the annual commemoration.
Meanwhile, continuous heavy rain due to the shear line isolated parts Bicol region on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Five barangays in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur were inundated after flood water breached the spillway due to overnight heavy rain.
Two people riding an e-bike by flood water while crossing the spill way in Cabusao, Camarines Sur.
Also affected by the shear line was Catanduanes province, which was devastated by Pepito.
A landslide occurred and a bridge was damaged by raging flood water in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes.