State of calamity declared in Southern Leyte town

A state of calamity has been declared in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte due to flooding and landslides caused by continuous rains, a television report said Tuesday. A GMA News' Flash Report said that placing St. Bernard under a state of calamity will allow the town to use the calamity funds alloted for such emergencies. However, GMA reporter Julius Segovia quoted St. Bernard Mayor Rico Rentuza as saying that the fund is not enough to help everyone affected by the floods and landslides. On Monday, Rentuza even made an appeal for water and medicines, saying it is still too dangerous to let the around 1,400 evacuees return to their homes for the moment. "We are running low on water and medicines. We may be able to manage for tonight but if conditions do not allow the evacuees to return by Tuesday, we're in trouble," he said in an earlier interview on dzBB radio. Last Sunday, a landslide hit the town, killing at least two children. A third child was reported missing but was found alive Sunday night. In its update as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said three deaths have been confirmed in St. Bernard. The victims were identified as Fatima Discaryal, Rodel Discaryal, and Jordan Laquipon. Rentuza, however, defended himself and St. Bernard from critics who said that they haven't "learned their lesson" from a 2006 landslide which killed more than 1,000 people. He said they have a geohazard map which shows which areas are prone to landslides and that they always warn their residents of danger in time. He likewise said that in the long run, they aim to relocate all the residents living near the mountains.
Other areas According to the NDRRMC, the death toll from floods and landslides that hit Southern Luzon, the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao has gone up to 10 as of Tuesday morning. It said that the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Davao Oriental have also been affected by the floods caused by continuous heavy rains. The NDRRMC said at least 37,718 families or 200,494 people from 252 villages in 43 municipalities and four cities in 12 provinces had been affected. [See: NDRRMC update] Of the 10 fatalities, five were from Southern Leyte province in Eastern Visayas. Three of the Southern Leyte fatalities were from Bolodbolod village in St. Bernard town. Another fatality, Patrick Pelaez, was from Pancho Villa in Sogod. A fifth fatality was Recabel Montederamos of Maanyag village in Tomas Oppus town. Fatalities from Mindanao included Cristy Jane Celocia of Lanao del Norte and Apolinaria Porras in Mt. Diwata, Compostela Valley. On the other hand, other fatalities include Dadap Antonio and Dadap Lolita of Manito Albay and Maricris of Legasoi City. An unidentified person has also been reported missing in Barangay Guinsaangan, Bontoc, Southern Leyte. — RSJ, GMANews.TV