Iloilo, areas in Capiz under state of calamity due to Quinta

Iloilo province was placed under a state of calamity due to the damage it suffered from Tropical Cyclone Quinta (Wukong). The provincial board passed a resolution to the effect after receiving reports about the extent of the loss of life and property, radio dzBB reported Saturday. On the other hand, the dzBB report said parts of Iloilo were finally accessible to teams bringing relief goods after days of flooding. A separate report on "Balitanghali" said many Iloilo residents have started efforts to recover from the damage. Some started cleaning up or repairing their houses while others left evacuation centers for their homes, the report added. A separate report on Visayas-based Bombo Radyo said some areas of Capiz province, also in Western Visayas, were placed under a state of calamity. In a special session, the provincial board declared some areas under state of calamity, the report said. It said the heavily affected areas are Panay, Pontevedra, Panit-an, Sigma, Dao, Cuartero, Dumalag, Tapaz and Mambusao. The report also quoted Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council action officer Esperidion Pelaez as saying 12 areas remained flooded. Relief operations are still ongoing, the report added. meanwhile, a report on Iloilo-based The Daily Guardian said the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas is pushing for the declaration of a state of calamity in Capiz and Aklan as well. Quinta had barreled through several areas in Mindanao and Visayas, though the bulk of the casualties were from the Visayas. As of Saturday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Quinta left at least 12 people dead. The NDRRMC estimated the damage to agriculture at P146,128,853.08. It also said 1,284 houses were destroyed while 2,931 were damaged. At least three roads and two bridges in Bicol and Western Visayas remained impassable, it added. — LBG, GMA News