By Teofilo Garcia Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 3 (PNA) -– One hundred twenty-six houses were destroyed while a fisherman was reported missing as a result of inclement weather condition since Thursday in the nearby province of Basilan.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Parouk Majirul said Friday, 55 of the 126 destroyed houses are located in six barangays of Hadji Muhtamad municipality.
Hadji Muhtamad is a sixth class municipality in Basilan that comprises of 10 island barangays. It was formerly known as the Pilas Group of Islands.
Majirul identified the missing fisherman as a certain Kahal, a resident of Hadji Muhtamad town.
He said the remaining destroyed houses are located in six barangays of Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.
He said some of the houses, especially those located in the coastal areas, were swept by big waves while some were destroyed by strong winds and uprooted trees.
He said they have yet to determine the worth of properties damaged due to inclement weather brought about by low pressure area that developed into tropical depression and later into tropical storm.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Friday that tropical depression “Egay” is now a storm.
Majirul said the provincial government in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Sta. Isabel Parish Church and Inter-Faith Council of Leaders (IFCL) has provided assistance to the families whose houses were destroyed.
He said the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has requested for additional relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (PNA)