ZAMBOANGA CITY — The local government's City Council has approved the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to place this city under a state of calamity due to the devastation caused by severe tropical storm "Paeng."

According to Vice Mayor Josephine Pareja, the city council — through the resolution — approved the recommendation of the CDRRMC in a special session Saturday afternoon which will enable the city government and the affected barangays to utilize resources and address damages caused by Paeng that ravaged the city since Thursday night until Friday.

Flash floods caused by Paeng left four dead from drowning and two others missing, while 10,754 families were displaced in this southern port city.

The Emergency Operations Center under the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said in a statement Monday that three of the four fatalities were identified as Tanya Abadies,
Edgardo Supil and Liza Mae Domingo.

"The identity of the fourth casualty is still being verified," said CDRRMO chief Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario.

Meantime, City Social Welfare and Development Office chief Ma. Socorro Rojas reported to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that 10,754 families with over 60,000 dependents were displaced by the flash floods.

Rojas said that the number of affected families is expected to increase as assessment is still underway for home-based families as well as those who opted to stay with relatives instead in evacuation centers.

City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez, on the other hand, reported that Paeng destroyed 44.4 hectares of rice fields and vegetable farms with damage estimated to have reached over P1.8 million.

The City Engineer's Office also reported that damage to infrastructures reached over P121 million as of Sunday and most of the affected infrastructures were slope protection facilities and bridges.

Mayor John Dalipe has ordered the concerned departments to provide all the necessary assistance to affected families, not only in terms of food and relief assistance but also other aid under the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation and pave way for their return to their houses at the soonest possible time.

Dalipe also tasked the security sector to ensure law and order in the evacuation centers by making sure that no incidences of looting or violence against women and children will take place in the temporary shelters.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office director, said 312 policemen were deployed to secure evacuation centers.