RESIDENTS stranded by a flood in Culasi town, Antique province. (Tira ni Han/Antique PDRRMO)
ILOILO CITY – The province of Antique is eyeing the declaration of a state calamity after sustaining damage from the ‘’habagat’’ (southwest monsoon) enhanced by tropical cyclone ‘‘Crising.’’
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) recommended the province-wide declaration on Thursday, July 24, after the local government units (LGUs) of Barbaza, Culasi and Sebaste towns declared a state of calamity.
The provincial government still needs the Antique Provincial Board to pass a resolution following the PDRRMC recommendation.
Once it is passed by the provincial government’s legislative body, the administration of Gov. Paolo Javier can access the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for early recovery and reconstruction operations.
No storm signal was raised for Crising but the massive flooding and landslides after heavy rainfall affected around 73,706 persons in 15 towns.
Around 190 houses were damaged and 51 were totally destroyed.
Latest data showed that P610-million worth of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, flood control systems, seawalls, hospitals, and schools were damaged.
PDRRM Officer Broderick Train said that the actual figures may rise as assessment is still ongoing.