Massive floods spawned by continuous rains brought by typhoon Labuyo (Utor) resulted to the death of 4 people, and the displacement of more than 4,500 families in Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. According to NDRRMC 1,577 houses were totally or partially damaged in these three provinces.

 

Families took refuge in evacuation centers (community or barangay hall), while the families that were caught by the fast rising water of the Cagayan River were trapped and forced to stay on the roof of their houses. Some families who did not go to the evacuation centers stayed on higher grounds or national highways for safety, bringing with them their farm animals like hogs, goats and carabaos. Thousands of hectares of farmlands have been submerged in floodwaters in Quirino, southern part of Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, while strong winds destroyed tons of harvestable rice, corn and vegetables.

 

Heavy downpour spawned by Labuyo also caused Magat dam to overflow, prompting authorities to open three spillway gates at 288 cubic per second that also caused flooding in areas near river banks. Labuyo also caused the toppling of power lines that resulted to black outs in most part of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Qurino and some parts of Cagayan Provinces, paralyzing economic activities.

 

Close to P400 million was initially estimated as damages wrought on agricultural crops ravaged by typhoon Labuyo in two hardest hit areas of southern Isabela and Quirino province. The floods caused by heavy rainfall brought by typhoon Labuyo destroyed standing crops of rice, corn, banana, citrus and other agricultural plants.

 

Quirino Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) bared a total of P205,897,645 estimated worth of agricultural crops that were either blown away or destroyed by floods during Labuyo’s onslaught. A total of 25,267 hectares of agricultural lands were affected by the typhoon with 15,330 hectares of which are devoted to corn. PDRRMC also accounted 1,983 families were affected during the calamity.

 

In Isabela, PDRRMC bared an initial cost of P178.5 Million worth of agricultural damages. Of this amount, P138,742,314 was attributed to corn crops in the adjoining San Agustin and Jones. The said municipalities were the most affected areas during the onslaught of the typhoon. Some 19,885 hectares of corn lands were ravaged by Labuyo’s fury.

 

In Maddela town, the typhoon spawned the swelling of the Cagayan River which affected Barangays Santo Niño, Manglad, San Pedro and Villa Ylanan. These communities remained isolated as of Tuesday, with portions of roads leading to several barangays also impassable due to a series of landslides.

 

Nueva Vizcaya, one of the worst hit provinces in Region 2, recorded three fatalities. Mariano dela Cruz, 42, of Barangay Domang, Dupax Del Sur town, who was swept away while trying to save his carabao, and Florante Castulo, 23, a civil engineer, and his brother Marwin, 16, of Barangay Curifang, Solano town. The brothers were electrocuted while catching eels Monday night. Another fatality was reported in Isabela—Dominador Zillabo of Barangay Ueg, San Mariano Town. He was electrocuted while fixing their television antenna on their roof Monday morning. Still missing as of 12 noon Tuesday was a certain Bennie Labio, 40, of Masaya Sur in the municipality of San Agustin. She went missing after her house was swept by a raging river, the woman waved her hands for help as she struggled to hang on to debris while being buffeted by huge waves in the muddy waters. The woman lived alone in a low-lying area and had refused to be evacuated.

 

In Dinapugue and Divilacan, at least 400 families living near the shoreline conducted pre-emptive evacuation. At least 500 families near river banks in Bambang, Solano and Bayombong have evacuated as well due to heavy flooding. At least 4,500 families or 14,256 people in Cagayan Valley were affected by Typhoon Labuyo. Some 18 evacuation centers were set up to accommodate the affected people.

 

In Cauayan City and the towns of Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas and San Agustin, at least 14 villages remain isolated because rivers overflowed. Major roads (Sta. Fe detour bridge, Aritao-Benguet Road and Bambang Hi-way) were closed down due to landslides and heavy flooding.

 

There were reports that several houses remain submerged in flood waters up to this time in the town of Bambang and Solano. The Department of Education announced that classes have been suspended in both public and private schools.

 

Assessment

 

CDRC’s Regional Center, the Cagayan Valley Disaster Response Center, conducted an evaluation of the situation, and came up with the following assessment:

• Crops are in danger of NO CHANCE OF RECOVERING due to strong winds and floods.
• The destroyed crops will have a great impact on the lives of the victims.
• Possible outbreak of water born diseases especially in the affected areas.
• The huge number of partially or totally destroyed houses will have a great impact on the economic status of the victims.

 

Table 1. affected Population by Super Typhoon Labuyo

PROVINCE	MUNICIPALITIES	BRGYS	FAMILIES	PERSONS
Isabela	8	38	4,455	22,340
Nueva Vizcaya	9	62	6,085	29,754
Quirino	6	43	4,832	27,341
TOTAL	23	143	15,372	79,435

 

The victims of typhoon Labuyo are the most economically deprived segment of the population. They are the poor peasants, minimum wage-earners, fisherfolks and urban poor. This condition makes them the perennial victims of natural calamities. Majority of them have not fully rebuilt their lives from previous disasters.

 

Past experience tells us that government calamity funds can barely suffice, even for the immediate and short term needs. Relief assistance is still most needed.

 

Table 2. Target Areas for Relief Delivery Operation (RDO)

PROVINCE	CITY/MUNICIPALITIES	NUMBER OF AFFECTED
		BRGYS	FAMILIES
Isabela	JonesEchagueSan Agustin San Guillermo Ramon Santiago City Angadanan Cordon	7 6 5 5 2 4 4 4	386 315 226 270 118 239 257 220
Nueva Vizcaya	BambangSolanoBagabag Quezon Dupax Del Norte Dupax Del Sur Villaverde Bayombong Aritao	8 5 5 2 3 4 3 5 2	367 294 237 125 141 167 175 268 189
Quirino	MaddelaNagtipunanAglipay Cabaroguis Saguday Diffun	8 8 3 3 4 4	736 568 225 235 276 312
TOTAL                                                              104			6,346

 

 

Donations may be coursed through the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center:

 

72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, 1104 Philippines

Phone: +63 2 929 98 20

Fax: +63 2 929 98 22

Email: info@cdrc-phil.com

 

Or through the following bank accounts:

Peso Account:

Account Name: Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Bank: Metrobank, Examiner Branch, Quezon City, Philippines

Account No. 636-3-63600741-3

Dollar Account:

Account Name: Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Bank: Metrobank, Examiner Branch, Quezon City, Philippines

Account No. 636-2-63600158-3

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM