VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) –The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Ilocos Sur has reinforced its preparedness measures as severe tropical storm “Kristine” continues to batter the region.
Search, rescue, and retrieval teams are on standby, rescue vehicles are strategically positioned, and all city and municipal DRRMOs are closely monitoring their respective areas.
As of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, the PDRRMO reported that the Buaya River in Barangay Mabileg, Sigay town, has overflowed, and there is knee-deep flooding at the spillway in Barangay Poblacion-Patungcaleo, Quirino town, which is currently inaccessible to all types of vehicles.
The MDRRMO personnel are continuously monitoring the water levels in these areas and advise residents to evacuate if necessary.
No preemptive evacuations were conducted in these areas; however, the PDRRMO recorded that approximately 691 families, or 2,139 individuals, from 46 barangays in the province have carried out preemptive evacuations.
A total of P5.7 million worth of infrastructure damage was also reported in Ilocos Sur, affecting a farm-to-market road in Barangay Comillas South, a bridge in Barangay Malaya, and a sanitary landfill in Barangay Remedios, all in Cervantes town.
Additionally, no damage to houses has been reported.
The PDRRMO added that the damage to agriculture will be assessed by the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office once the weather stabilizes.
In a virtual press briefing held by the Philippine Information Agency on Thursday afternoon, Engr. Jocelyn Oamar from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) stated that all national roads are currently passable, and they continue to monitor all national roads, bridges, and sections located in mountainous areas of the region.
She said, “Sa Ilocos Sur, binabantayan natin ang Tagudin-Cervantes Road at saka iyong Junction Banayoyo-Lidlidda-San Emilio-Quirino Road going to Cervantes town and upland areas.”
(In Ilocos Sur, we monitor the Tagudin-Cervantes Road and the Junction Banayoyo-Lidlidda-San Emilio-Quirino Road leading to Cervantes town and the upland areas.)
Vilma Vesino, geosciences division chief at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), advised residents and motorists to avoid traveling in areas prone to landslides as the storm “Kristine” passes through Ilocos Sur Thursday evening.
“According sa report ng PAGASA, dadaan ang bagyo sa Ilocos Sur… isa ang Suyo-Cervantes road sa mga landslide-prone sa probinsya, kaya sana mag-ingat ang mga constituents natin diyan kasi common diyan ang rockfall, and it is the most dangerous among the types of landslides lalo na sa mga commuters at motorists,” Vesino said.
(According to the PAGASA report, the typhoon will pass through Ilocos Sur… the Suyo-Cervantes Road is one of the landslide-prone areas in the province, so our constituents, especially commuters, and motorists, should be careful because rockfalls are common in that area, and it is most dangerous among the types of landslides.)
She also encouraged the public to follow advisories and check the list of critical areas for monitoring using the geohazard map available on the websites and social media pages of government offices and agencies.
She added, “Maging gabay sana natin ito para sa paghahanda sa pagdating ng [bagyong] Kristine at ng mga susunod na bagyo pero huwag naman na sana. Huwag tayong maging kampante at always expect the worst scenario. Dapat nating tandaan na sa taong handa, sakuna’y walang panama, at ang taong alerto [ay] malayo sa peligro.”
(May this serve as our guide in preparing for the arrival of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” and the subsequent typhoons, but hopefully not. Let’s not be complacent and always expect the worst scenario. We must remember that disaster will not be a problem for a prepared person, and an alert person is far from danger.) (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
