Baggao bears brunt of Florita damage in Cagayan

Residents of Baggao town in Cagayan province face the worst of tropical cyclone Florita as downpour caused flooding and damaged homes and crops.

The local government said it is considering declaring a state of calamity, according to Jasmin Gabriel Galban’s report on “24 Oras.”

Pong Cruz of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said Florita has left Bagunot Bridge impassable.

“Kung hindi bababa ang tubig baha, talagang ma-isolate ang 7 barangays. Anyway, mayroon kaming alternate route papuntang Alcala pero hindi pa ako sure kung open siya,” Cruz said.

(If flood water would not subside, at least 7 villages will be isolated. Anyway, we have an alternate route to Alcala but I'm not sure if it's open.)

Rice and corn crops were also heavily damaged due to the onslaught of Florita, according to Cruz.

“Ang problema talaga ay damages sa crops. Yun ang problema namin. Malaki kasi ang damages namin especially sa corn and rice crops namin,” he added.

(Our problem is damage to crops. Because there’s a lot of damage especially to corn and rice crops.)

Meanwhile, at least 150 villages in the province were affected after Florita wreaked havoc with heavy rains and strong winds.

Several roads were strewn with muddy rubbish. Authorities are currently clearing debris from major roads.

Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said Buntun River remains on red alert status.

Data from the PDRRMO showed that one person died in Santo Nino town while three people were injured.

Initial damage and losses to agriculture brought by Florita in Cagayan was estimated at P194 million.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News