PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, (PNA) — El Nido in mainland Palawan and Busuanga in the Calamianes Group of Islands have both declared their municipalities under a state of calamity.
This followed the onslaught of typhoon Odette, according to a press statement from the provincial government.
Both towns were simultaneously declared under a state of calamity on September 23, said the statement sent to the media Friday, due to damaging effects of two weeks of torrential rains.
In El Nido, Mayor Edna Gacott-Lim reportedly signed to confirm the declaration of the state of calamity after it was passed by members of the Sanguniang Bayan under Resolution No. 13-76.
On the same day, the members of the Sanguniang Bayan of Busuanga also passed and approved Resolution No. 01, which recommends the declaration of their town under a state of calamity due incessant heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
Initial reports received by the Palawan government’s Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office from El Nido said over 18 barangays in the municipality, or equivalent to the whole town, were affected by the torrential rains with 3,695 families.
In Busuanga, 38 families were reportedly affected by flashfloods due to overflowing of the Busuanga River in Barangay Sagrada. Power in the town was also affected and is not yet back in operation as of press time.
No life was lost too, according to latest reports from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (MDRRMCs) of both towns.
Provincial Governor Jose Alvarez has already ordered PDRMMO chief Gilbert Baaco to augment Saturday its relief operations in the two municipalities.