Although only two houses in San Miguel town were damaged by flooding and landslides that occurred last week due to bad weather, 40,128 people were affected by the continuous heavy rains brought by a low pressure area, the shear line and northeast monsoon.
According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office, consolidated reports from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (LDRRMOs) showed that a total of 16,168 families consisting of 67,710 persons in 172 barangays in Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate were affected by the bad weather.
In Catanduanes, a total of 40,128 people or 9,724 families in 77 barangays were affected, with at least 10 families or 50 people forced to shelter in evacuation centers.
The affected persons are in Bagamanoc (6,972), Baras (4,449), Bato (6.028), Gigmoto (12,500), Panganiban (1,920), San Miguel (7,069) and Viga (1,190).
Flooding was reported in Sibacungan and Libod Poblacion in Bato; Sitio Bariurong, Mabini in Panganiban; Obo, Siay, Patagan and San Juan in San Miguel; and Rizal, Almojuela, San Vicente, Begonia and Penafrancia in Viga.
Rain-induced landslides were reported on Jan. 17, 2023 in P. Teston, Puraran, Putsan and Sta. Maria, all in Baras; Oguis and Tilis in Bato; Sicmil and Sioron in Gigmoto; San Juan (Aroyao) in San Miguel; and, Ogbong, Tinago, Soboc and Sagrada in Viga.
At least four roads in Bagamanoc (Magsaysay), Bato (Oguis), Panganiban (Mabini) and San Miguel (San Jose) were rendered impassable to all types of vehicles.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office has provided P1.6 million worth of family food packs as relief augmentation to the province of Catanduanes and the towns of San Miguel, Viga, Panganiban, Baras and Bato.
On the other hand, the San Miguel and Gigmoto LGUs provided relief assistance totaling P175,000.00 to displaced families.
The rainfall and flood warnings issued by PAGASA over Catanduanes also led to the suspension of classes at all levels in the 11 towns.
While there were no casualties in last week’s spate of bad weather, the flooding it caused resulted in the drowning of more than 20 carabaos in San Miguel and Bato.
The final damage report submitted to Mayor Francisco Camano Jr. by the Municipal Agriculturist Cherryl Tatel stated that 21 carabaos and a cow drowned after the Bato river overflowed and swamped areas where the animals were left to graze by their owners.
The flooding likewise submerged nearly seven hectares of rice land, four hectares of vegetable, camote and peanut farms and a hectare-sized fishpond, causing P1.2 million in damage.
MDRRMO Juan Bernal Jr. also reported that 10 barangays – San Juan, Obo, Patagan Salvacion, Sta. Elena, Dayawa, Pacogon, San Marcos, Tborehon and JMA – were isolated along with the three sitios in Katipunan, Kilikilihan and Pagsangahan.
In Bato, Municipal Agriculturist Eduardo Taopo Jr. reported that a motorized banca was totally damaged, two were declared missing while three others were partially damaged, with total losses at P180,000.00.
Eleven (11) carabaos drowned while six others were missing, with the livestock losses amounting to P740,000.00.