Livelihood main concern of Ilocos Lawin victims
3 MIN READ
By ANNA LEAL
www.nordis.net
VIGAN CITY — Super Typhoon Lawin made its landfall in Peñablanca, Cagayan at about 11:40PM on October 20, 2016. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur under TCWS# 4 and La Union under TCWS# 3. The strength of Lawin was at 225kph sustained winds and gustiness up to 315kph moving at 25kph West Northwest.
BATTERED. Ilocos Sur coastal villages were among those hardly hit by typhoon Lawin. Photo courtesy of ICRED
On October 19, power lines have been cut off in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Strong winds were felt during the night even before the rain came.
By October 20, telecommunication lines from Smart and PLDT were non-operational in Ilocos Norte and intermittent in Ilocos Sur.
By October 21, all three provinces declared a State of Calamity.
Based on the initial reports gathered by the Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment and Development (ICRED) during and immediately after the typhoon, there were 3,134 families evacuated in Ilocos Norte, 1,521 in Ilocos Sur and 1,261 in La Union. Ilocos Norte also suffered P274 million worth of damage in agriculture; P250 million in Ilocos Sur and P15 million in La Union.
In certain areas, power lines have not been restored as of October 28.
The ICRED, together with different peoples’ organizations in the Ilocos Region, was able to conduct assessment in several communities. In a majority of cases, livelihood and shelter is the main concern of residents.
In Brgy. Villamar, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, the residents whose main livelihood is farming and fishing are now left to wonder where they can get the needed help to restore their sources of income.
Sixty-five fish pens containing milkfish, tilapia and samaral about to be harvested were totally damaged. Contents of those partially damaged were washed out by the raging flood water. Only two families were able to harvest before Lawin struck. Aside from the fish pens, the boats and fishing equipment of residents were either damaged or lost. According to the residents themselves, the estimated total cost of damage is pegged at PhP5,000,000.00.
Most of the fisher folks at Brgy. Villamar only rent the use of fish pens.
Farmers were not spared. Due to the surge of water from the ocean, farm lands were flooded while those who were able to harvest before the storm got their stored rice soaked in the flood.
The water was so strong that the sand bar that serves as a barrier between the river and the ocean has been washed out.
In Santa, Ilocos Sur, residents of Brgy. Calungboyan, Casiber and Brgy. Rancho also lament the loss of their rice crops. Farmers were able to harvest a day before Lawin came. However, the flood water washed out their harvest.
In Brgy. Namatican, Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, the raging river washed out almost 3 hectares of agricultural land.
Aside from the problems on their livelihood, residents also have to deal with damaged houses. Based on the data collected by the ICRED, a total of 587 houses were partially damaged while the totally damaged are 82.
In Brgy. Ferdinand, Marcos, Ilocos Norte, a tornado ripped through 110 houses and totally destroyed 14 houses.
The ICRED is currently working with other non-government organizations in the region looking and raising support, supplies and volunteers to help the most severely affected communities. # nordis.net
