Iba, Zambales — The provincial government here revealed that damages amounting to P18.5 million were incurred as agricultural loss of the province as typhoon “Falcon” ravaged Zambales farmlands over the weekend.
According to Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., typhoon “Falcon” destroyed portions of dikes and triggered landslides in some part of the province as rice crops and other agricultural produce were submerged in torrential rainwater.
He also reported that 598 families were forced to evacuate their houses to ensure their safety as he warned residents to be vigilant as the typhoon will intensify, enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat and further spawn heavy rainfall of from 100mm to 200mm.
Ebdane added that 150mm of rain is about six inches when using the rain gauge.
Earlier, the provincial government conducted an inspection of Zambales over the weekend as Ebdane checked on the infrastructures such as dikes and bridges, and also giving instruction to government offices to safeguard the people of Zambales during this calamity.
He reported that strong river current has damaged parts of protective dikes in the municipalities of San Felipe, Cabangan and San Narciso, minor landslides in Masinloc and Subic, damaged roads in San Marcelino, as well as a bridge and spillway in San Antonio, but added that these will be repaired within just a few days.
A report from the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday showed that 78 barangays in the 13 towns of Zambales were affected by the typhoon, with 3,390 families and 10,544 persons adversely affected.
The flooding in the province has led to the pre-emptive evacuation of residents in 33 barangays, with 542 families or 1,908 persons temporarily staying in evacuation centers and 56 families or 399 persons sheltering outside the centers.