WATER WORLD. Residents wade through gutter-deep floods in Barangay Wakas in Imus, Cavite which has been battered by occasional heavy rains for the past eight days. (Photo by Dennis Abrina)
TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite -- Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla declared a state of calamity around 4 p.m. Sunday due to widespread floods in the coastal towns and cities in Cavite.
Remulla has already notified the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (provincial legislative council) which is set to convene Monday to formalize the resolution for the state of calamity declaration.
He stated that Vice Governor Ramon 'Jolo' Revilla will preside over the council session to pass the resolution on the matter.
Remulla declared suspension of classes in all levels in public and private schools on Monday as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted an orange rainfall warning in the province due to the southwest monsoon, posing threat of floods to low-lying areas.
Three weather disturbances with local names “Henry”, “Inday” and “Josie” have since enhanced the southwest monsoon rains for the past three days.
Bacoor City has already declared a state of calamity after 63 of its 73 barangays were inundated due to tropical depression “Inday” while Naic town also passed a state of calamity declaration after its 12 barangays were flooded due to incessant monsoon rains induced by tropical storm "Henry".
Widespread floods have been affecting the cities of Bacoor, Imus, and General Trias as well as the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, Indang and Ternate.
Remulla personally led the distribution of thousands of relief packs of rice to fisher folks starting July 18 through the assistance of the local government chief executives of the affected Cavite City, Noveleta, Tanza, Naic and Ternate.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Cavite Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that the entire Rosario town is inundated with waist-deep floods particularly in Bagbag and Ligtong 4, although no evacuation was implemented yet as the Malimango River is reaching its critical level.
A landslide was also reported at Manggahan Village in General Trias City due to drainage construction while a Meralco post collapsed.
Waist-deep floods, meanwhile, were reported in Sitio Macuto, while Lulungisan Bridge in Indang is still not passable due to landslide but the DPWH responded immediately to conduct clearing operations.
Some 340 individuals were evacuated in Julugan village in Tanza.
The local disaster risk reduction and management offices have been mobilized in case of any eventuality. (PNA)
