Albay solon seeks gov’t help for Uwan-ravaged Third District

Albay Third District Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda is seeking national government assistance to restore long-weakened flood defenses in his area following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan.

Salceda estimated that Uwan’s wrath over the weekend inflicted P3.71 billion in damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and local livelihoods in his district alone.

The lawmaker noted that the latest devastation "follows a pattern of compounding impact," as most of the flood control structures damaged by Typhoon Kristine in 2024 have now completely collapsed after Uwan.

“We had already submitted our post-Kristine damage reports and engineering estimates to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and the OCD (Office of Civil Defense),” Salceda said in a statement.

“But without rehabilitation funds, those same structures, already weakened, gave way this time. We appeal for help in restoring these critical defenses,” he added.

Among the most severely damaged structures are the Centro Oriental and Gabon dikes in Polangui; flood-control structures in Bobonsuran, Malama, and Paclas in Ligao City; and the Carisac dikes in Libon. The San Francisco dike in Guinobatan, which was eroded by Kristine, has now totally collapsed, and embankment failures were reported in sections of Oas.

Salceda credited early warnings and preemptive evacuation for limiting casualties, noting the district recorded only one casualty despite experiencing Typhoon Signal No. 4 conditions. Local governments resorted to temporary sandbagging to slow water flow along the Quinale A River and its tributaries.

Farmers were forced to harvest their crops early to save what they could before flooding, a decision that Salceda warned will likely cause a temporary collapse in farmgate prices. He has asked the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority to consider local procurement or emergency market support to assist farmers.

Salceda stressed that his district’s recovery cannot be sustained by local efforts alone.

“We have shown that preparedness really works. Our zero mass-casualty outcome proves that. What we now need is national partnership to rebuild stronger flood defenses and irrigation systems,” said Salceda.