Philippines, Hardly Hit by Typhoon Vamco
WORLD, Philippines: The Philippines needs help as it, hardly, hit by the typhoon Vamco, referred to as Ulysses, which equal in force to a Category 2 hurricane, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Vamco hit the Philippines on Wednesday night as reported from CNN affiliate CNN Philippines.
According to the report, more than 180,000 people were evacuated as the typhoon battered the country, hitting the same communities that were devastated by Super Typhoon Goni, happened two weeks ago.
Vamco made a disastrous turn moving westward at 11pm when it caused its first landfall passing through Patnanungan, Quezon, then made a second landfall in Luzon, that has caused flooding and two to three meters of storm surge.
Marikina and Cagayan were hit the worst leaving lifeless bodies of people and animals floating in the deep-water that submerged houses, destroyed properties and belongings. Those affected areas were faced with no clean water to drink, no clothes to wear, no food to eat, and no roof to sleep until water then been dried up.
“People are crying and shouting for help as the water runs through their doors, and water rapidly gets high. But, no one can come to help. There are no rescuers,” Roasa lamented.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the impact of the storm in central Luzon is particularly damaging because it is hitting the same 1.6 million people affected by Super Typhoon Goni. Vamco is the fifth storm to impact the Philippines in just over three weeks.
“The Red Cross holds particularly grave concerns for more than 240,000 people who lost their homes to Typhoon Goni, especially those who are living in a makeshift shelters along the coast as this latest storm hits,” the organization said in a statement.
The Filipinos and the Social Media
Cries for help from Filipinos have inundated the social media.
Donation campaigns to help provide food, clothing, tent, money, drinkable water and prayers are flooding the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hashtags #CagayanNeedsHelp, #IsabelaNeedsHelp are used.
A netizen Pearl Kayna Appal posted in Moira Dela Torre’s Facebook page:
“PLEASE HELP US REACH THE AUTHORITIES!!
Apparently, the whole province is experiencing the highest flood record in decades and yet, there were no media coverage being made. We don't have enough rescue teams to save people. Majority of the houses are being submerged in water, and the water level is still rising. HEAR US. WE NEED HELP. WE NEED PRAYERS.
“Winds were too strong that big mango trees were uprooted in the neighborhood. Roofs have flown down. Thanks God we are safe, but I am saddened to know that there were many in Cagayan which are heavily affected. They are in our prayers.” Perez, UPC Bulakan Ministry from Bulacan said in his message.
The Philippine Government Report on Estimated Loss
The Philippine News Agency in Manila has reposted that the Department of Agriculture (DA) said losses brought about by Typhoon Ulysses have totaled PHP969.8 million affecting 40,519 farmers and 51,241 hectares of agricultural areas.
In a statement on Friday, the DA said the typhoon damaged croplands in the Cordillera Autonomous Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the Bicol Region.
“This includes commodities such as rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, and livestock,” it said, adding that its total production loss is already at 58,897 metric tons (MT) as of 4:00 p.m. Friday.
Losses were also reported among irrigation facilities, fisheries facilities, and equipment.
The increase in total value was attributed to additional reports from Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, as well as updated reports from Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Bicol Region.
Assistance
Earlier today, Agriculture Secretary William Dar personally visited affected farmers in Pulilan and Malolos, Bulacan.
He distributed some PHP176 million worth of rice seeds and fertilizers to Bulakeño farmers.
The DA said it is coordinating with affected local government units and other disaster risk reduction management-related offices to facilitate the appropriate interventions and assistance.
“This includes water management-related agencies for flood risk monitoring and dam water release,” it said.
The DA Regional Offices are also distributing rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds, it added.
This, along with drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry farms.
In earlier news, the DA urged farmers affected by Typhoons Quinta and Rolly to avail of their Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
DA Director Roy Abaya explained to Philippine News Agency this will grant the victims with PHP25,000 from their Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program.
The amount is broken down to PHP5,000 for emergency and PHP20,000 for recovery.
It will be provided with zero interest and no collateral payable in 10 years, Abaya added.
The affected farmers may also seek assistance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
The DA is currently doing fieldwork to assess the total damage and losses incurred by "Ulysses" in agriculture. (PNA)