Ilocos Sur folk sandbag river to prevent more flooding

Residents of Barangay Fuerte in Caoayan town Ilocos Sur showed how the bayanihan spirit can be kept alive especially in times of disaster.

Some gathered sand from the coastline, while another group shoveled them into the sacks.

The rows of sandbags, spanning the length of two basketball courts, were used as border of the river to prevent further flooding, according to a "24 Oras" report by Ivy Hernando of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon.

The border of the river collapsed at the height of the typhoon.  Several houses were also destroyed.

“Ang kailangan namin ngayon ay mga sandbag at supply para sa hanapbuhay ng mga residente dito,” Eugene Quiocho, a village official said.

Ilocos Sur was among the provinces battered by Typhoon Egay's heavy rains and strong winds, which left a trail of devastation.

The province has been placed under a state of calamity to allow it to access funds for rehabilitation.

On Thursday, the iconic Quirino Bridge, which connects the towns of Santa and Bantay, was damaged when two spans of the structure collapsed and were swept away by raging floodwaters. 

At least 20 municipalities remain without electricity.

A telecommunications company has offered a charging station in barangay Baggoc in Caoayan.

Data from the provincial government showed more than P753 million worth of infrastructure damage was caused by the typhoon.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News