BANGUED, Abra (PIA) – Various local government units (LGUs) here conducted pre-emptive evacuation in flood-prone areas in the province in as precautionary measures as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine threatens North Luzon.
As of 6:00 PM of October 25, 2024, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Cordillera reported a total of 221 affected families, consisting of 715 persons, from the municipalities of Bucay, Dolores, Lacub, Lagangilang, Luba, Manabo, Pilar, San Juan, and Villaviciosa, were affected by the onslaught of Kristine.
Of the 221 displaced families, 62 families composed of 213 persons were accommodated in evacuation centers at Barangay Layugan Gym and Pantoc-Pakiling Child Development Center in Bucay; at the Laang Evacuation Center and Municipal Evacuation Center in Lagangilang; the Sabnangan Child Development Center in Luba; and the Sapdaan Elementary School in Manabo.
Meanwhile, 159 families consisting of 502 individuals stayed with their families and friends.
DSWD-CAR reported that the total cost of assistance to affected communities in Abra is P120,346.78 in which P75,067.78 is from the DSWD, P44,279 from concerned LGUs, and P1,000 from other stakeholders.
During the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) virtual meeting, Claudine Cosi of the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office-Abra shared that the DSWD and the LGU continue to provide food and non-food items to the affected population.
“The local government of Lagangilang provided hot meals for the affected families who preemptively evacuated due to the rapid rise of water level,” she said.
The municipal government of Bucay also provided hot meals to the evacuees while the Dolores LGU distributed food and non-food items to evacuees taking shelter with family and friends.
Family Food Packs were also distributed to the evacuees in Lagangilang and Luba through the partnership of SWAD-Abra and concerned LGUs.
There are still 5,490 prepositioned goods for the province, ready for distribution among affected LGUs and communities.
Cosi shared that as of 12:00 PM of 25 October 2024, displaced families in both evacuation centers and those staying with relatives have gone back to their homes as weather condition in the province improve.
As of 5:00 PM of Oct. 25, Abra is placed under Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 as STS Kristine accelerates outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. (JJPM, PIA-CAR, Abra)
