Nonstop rains trigger flooding, landslide incident in So. Leyte
TACLOBAN CITY- Incessant rains spawned by the shear line and the northeast monsoon or ‘amihan’ have triggered flooding and landslide incidents in Southern Leyte province, still reeling from the massive devastations caused by Typhoon ‘Odette.’
In Saint Bernard town, at least six individuals were rescued and evacuated to a safer place as their house was inundated as a result of the swelling of the nearby Kapanangan River.
A minor landslide was also reported in the village of Lipanto, also in the same town.
In Libagon town, a 53-year old man, who was not identified, was also rescued due to the flooding that hit their village in Talisay.
Flooding was also experienced in Barangay Pancil, Malitbog town where a resident, in a video, called on provincial officials and other government agencies for assistance as their bridge was flooded.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that the Agas-Agas Bridge in Sogod town was rendered not passable due to the nonstop rains.
The bridge is the main route of going to Southern Leyte from Leyte province.
Despite of the bad weather condition prevailing in the province, relief operations will not be affected, Rey Gozon, assistant regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said.
“Our relief operations are not hampered despite of the bad weather,” he said.
All assets and equipment of the government like military trucks and sea crafts from the Coast Guard and Navy are being utilized to ensure that assistance will reach to all affected towns and villages in the province, Gozon added.
Meantime, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has lauded all elected officials of Southern Leyte for their presence during and after Odette hit the province on December 16.
“All chief executives of the province were around during and after Odette hit Southern Leyte,” Ian Adrian Colasito, senior local government operations officer of the DILG-8 said.
For her part, Lt. Maria Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP-8), said that they did not monitor any looting incident in the province in the aftermath of the onslaught of Odette.
“From day one, there was no looting incident in the province and we are thankful to all the support of different government agencies, local government units, and the local themselves,” she said.
