CASUALTIES. Christian Nagaynay, chief of the local government capability division of the DILG, which handles the management of the dead and missing cluster of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports two verified casualties in Iloilo and Capiz due to flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. In a press conference on Saturday (Oct. 29, 2022), he said the two were casualties of "flash flood and strong current of flood occurring in their areas." (Screengrab from virtual press conference)
ILOILO CITY – Severe Tropical Storm Paeng on Saturday left two persons dead and one missing in Western Visayas, based on the report of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The DILG chairs the management of the dead and missing cluster of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDDRMC).
Christian Nagaynay, chief of the DILG local government capability division, said the two died due to "flash flood and strong current of flood occurring in their areas."
The fatalities were identified as JP Buendia, 28, from Tapas, Capiz, and Genevev Nacio, 25, from San Joaquin in Iloilo province.
The reported missing is from Passi City, Iloilo but no other details were given.
Nagaynay added that they were still coordinating the unofficial report on deaths and missing they received to be included in their progress report.
Yet to be confirmed are deaths in Aklan and Antique that were earlier reported by the local media.
The provincial government of Antique on its Facebook page announced that a 67-year-old resident of Barangay Nagdayao in the municipality of Sibalom was found dead Saturday morning.
According to his relative, based on the investigation by the Sibalom Municipal Police Station, the victim attempted to rescue his cow on the other side of the Tipuluan River but was trapped due to heavy rains.
He allegedly tried to swim but was swept away by the strong current.
Nagaynay said they have been following a protocol in terms of including them in the report as it has to be verified by the Philippine National Police and the local DRRM office.
“It has implications in terms of providing assistance later on to families of those who will be properly documented and verified. That is why we are very careful in including them, though it is easy right now to collect and gather data from the social media,” he said. (PNA)
