By Patricia Bermudez
TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – The provincial government has placed Cavite under a state of calamity on Tuesday, July 22 to hasten government aid for residents affected by Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon (habagat).
Governor Francisco Gabriel Remulla signed a resolution for the declaration amid the rising number of residents affected by flooding due to continuous heavy rains.
In a statement, Remulla said the state of calamity will allow the provincial government to use its calamity and quick response funds for relief operations.
“This declaration aimed to expedite government response in strengthening quick response and ensuring the safety and protection of Caviteños.”
The resolution came after a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (OPDRRMO) and the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (OPSWDO) to map out the local government’s measures to provide aid for residents amid the heavy rains brought by the typhoon.
On July 22, the Cavite OPDRRMO reported that around 496 families and 1,744 individuals from 12 local government units were evacuated.
Authorities also noted 138 related incidents, including fallen trees, flooding, landslides, soil erosion, collapsed structures, and vehicular accidents which caused partial damages to eight houses and other infrastructures, while five houses were completely damaged.
Damages to agricultural products included high-value crops amounting to Php 3,175,875.00 in Alfonso, Naic, and Tanza; Php 1,464,297.43 worth of damaged rice in the cities of General Trias and Imus and Naic town and; Php 407,500.00 worth of damaged corn in the towns of Alfonso and Tanza.
