BALER, Philippines – Floods spawned by tropical storm “Ramil” last week destroyed more than P1 million worth of agricultural crops in this capital town of Aurora province, and many residential areas were inundated as the rains continued at the weekend.
Gabriel Llave, chief of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said floodwaters destroyed some P1,028,498 worth of rice crops on 21.5-hectare farm lands in the villages of Reserva, Pingit, Buhangin and Calabuanan (Setan).
Llave said torrential rains due to tropical storm Ramil caused flooding of at least 2 ½ feet in affected areas in the past week.
The water level of rivers and creeks also rose to more than two feet during All Saints’ Day.
In Sitio Baclaran, Barangay Suklayin, the floodwaters rose up to hip level Thursday.
Although the floodwaters already subsided in some parts here, Llave advised fishermen not to go fishing due to cloudly skies with occasional light rains.
The rains returned at the weekend, flooding several barangays.
At the height of the rains Saturday, young residents were spotted by a News5 team helping push the vehicle of Police Senior Inspector Ullyses Jastiva, which stalled as its axle got broken while trying to go through floodwaters in Sitio Baclaran.
The vehicle was eventually pushed to the side of the road, albeit one rear wheel was missing, and PSI Jativa thanked the young residents who had helped him.
Some youths of Baler, however, were unfazed by the risks of electrocution, as they were seen continuing to work and play games at a flooded computer shop on Gloria St., Barangay Suklayin.
The youngsters continued with their games, telling an interviewer they are not scared of being electrocuted because the outlets of the computers are “high enough” above the floodwaters. – With a report from PNA
