There were no reports of damage to infrastructure and agriculture due to tropical depression “Amang” last week but the weather disturbance caused the cancellation of work and classes in the island.
In its April 15, 2023 final report on “Amang,” the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) stated that there were no reported landslides, flooding and storm surge while all roads and bridges were passable to all kinds of vehicles.
As soon as public storm signal number 1 was raised by PAGASA in the morning of April 11, Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes immediately suspended classes in all levels in both public and private schools.
Preparedness measures due to the Red Alert status were disseminated to barangays, with coastal villages advised to implement the “no swimming, no surfing and no sailing” policy.
Prepositioned relief food packs were distributed to residents of three Dugui barangays usually isolated during typhoons.
A minor landslide was reported in Pananaogan, Bato but vehicle passage was not affected.
In San Andres town, a passing motorist was injured when he was hit by a falling tree branch.
The MDRRMO identified the victim as one Er Torres, 38, of Yocti, who was on board his motorcycle at around 5:15 PM of April 11 when a branch fell from a tree overhead as he passed in barangay Palawig.
He sustained minor injuries on his right leg, according to MDRRMO personnel who responded to the report about eight minutes later.
A total of 69 families consisting of 231 individuals were evacuated to the village church and private residences in Talisoy, Virac while another two families were evacuated in Bagong Sirang, San Andres.
As reported by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided assistance worth P1,554 to evacuees as augmentation to the LGUs in Catanduanes.
The OCD report also stated that at one time, the national road in Cabungahan, San Andres was limited to one lane due to a minor rockfall.
The passing storm also caused the stranding of 70 passengers at San Andres port and 384 at Tabaco port, along with 53 rolling cargoes, as well as the cancellation of the April 12 commercial flight at Virac airport.
The provincial government provided meals to the stranded passengers at Tabaco port.
The Tribune learned that while the public welcomed the suspension of classes on April 11 and 12, the cancellation of work on April 12 by Governor Joseph Cua through Memorandum No. 106 was met by grumbling, generally among job-order workers employed in LGUs.
Provincial Administrator Lemuel Surtida said that the chief executive based his decision on reports that few transport operators plied their routes in the morning of April 12 due to heavy rains and wind gusts, preventing many government workers from reporting to their offices.