Aklan, Tapiz town under state of calamity
Based on the report of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the approach of the old Kalibo bridge was damaged and has been barricaded and closed to traffic.
Daily TribuneBased on the report of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the approach of the old Kalibo bridge was damaged and has been barricaded and closed to traffic.
ILOILO CITY — The Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office announced that the province and the municipality of Tapaz in Capiz province are now under a state of calamity after the onslaught of severe tropical storm "Paeng."
Aklan PDRRMO officer Galo Ibardolaza disclosed that the declaration was done during a special session conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Friday afternoon after the presentation of the typhoon damage in the province.
"Not all towns are flooded but due to rains the whole population of Aklan is affected. We are on duty 24/7 in the province and all the 17 municipalities in the province," Ibardolaza said.
Based on the report of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the approach of the old Kalibo bridge was damaged and has been barricaded and closed to traffic while their maintenance crew put an embankment on the affected portion.
The PDRRMO official said that the bridge parallel to the damaged one is being used as an alternative route and stressed that he still could not confirm the reported casualties since they have yet to get hold of the official report.
"We don't have casualty reported on papers but we know there is a casualty. You know we could not report officially if there is no report from the concerned municipality," Ibardolaza said.
He added that pre-emptive evacuation is being undertaken for residents living in low-lying areas in Kalibo and Numancia towns since the water level of the Aklan River has reached a critical level.
Evacuation is also ongoing in low-lying areas of barangays in municipalities situated along the river including Banga, Madalag, Libacao and Malinao and since Thursday, the PDRRMO has been sheltering evacuees from Numancia and Kalibo at the ABL Sports Complex and the Kalibo evacuation center.
Data provided by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council through its Emergency Operations Center showed that 48 barangays in the province suffered various hazards brought by "Paeng."
