Catanduanes needs construction materials, food packs

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Residents of Catanduanes are urgently in need of construction materials to rebuild homes destroyed by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong), which battered the province with fierce winds and heavy rains over the weekend, Governor Patrick Azanza said Monday.

Azanza said the prepositioned 19,000 food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development would be insufficient for almost 90,000 individuals displaced by the super typhoon.

“Marami rin po ang nangangailangan ng yero, pako at plywood para makumpuni ang kanilang partially o totally damaged houses (Many people also need iron sheets, nails, and plywood to repair their partially or totally damaged houses),” he said.

Catanduanes was among the first provinces hit hard by Uwan on Saturday, even before it made landfall as a super typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 was raised in the province over the weekend.

The provincial government implemented forced evacuation, which Azanza said helped save lives, especially in coastal areas where life-threatening storm surges were high.

“Sa aming port area nasira mismo ang seawall sa harap ng parola o lighthouse ng Coast Guard dahil sa malakas na hampas ng alon dulot ng storm surge at ang dating pasyalan na Imelda Boulevard malapit sa pier ay binaha at nagmukhang parte ng dagat (In our port area, the seawall in front of the Coast Guard lighthouse was damaged due to the strong waves caused by the storm surge, and the former promenade Imelda Boulevard near the pier was flooded and looked like part of the sea),” he added.

He said floodwaters in some barangays reached waist-deep, while in others, they surged up to the roofs of houses.

Azanza thanked the national government for the assistance.

“Nakausap ko na sina DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla at DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian at siniguro nila ang pagdalaw at pagpapaabot ng tulong sa mga naapektuhang Catandunganon. Nagpapadala naman ng 37 Starlink si DICT Secretary Henry Aguda para marestore ang komunikasyon at internet lines. (I have already spoken to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian and they have assured to visit and provide assistance to the affected Catandunganon. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda is sending 37 Starlinks to restore communication and internet lines,” he said. (PNA)