Kalayaan Island not spared by Nona

MANILA, Philippines - The tiny island town of Kalayaan Island in Pag-asa in the Spratlys archipelago was not spared from the widespread devastation from Typhoon Nona that hit the country last week.

Nona crossed the island town on Dec. 19, toppling two old trees considered by local residents as part of a mini-forest, the only source of deep-well potable water in the island.

While no one was injured among the islanders, several children got sick with fever, a resident who asked not to be identified said.

“Our problem now is that the two nurses stationed here have left for Puerto Princesa City for Christmas break,” she said in Tagalog.

She said that while they are not afraid of the menacing presence of the Chinese at nearby Zamora (Subi) Reef, their main concern is the health and welfare of their children.

Kalayaan Island town, a former military garrison, is home to some 300 residents, including children. 

Civilian residents share the island with soldiers on territorial and maritime duties in the country’s regime of islands in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Located just 12 nautical miles from China-occupied Zamora Reef, a sea feature that Beijing has transformed into an artificial island, Pag-asa is the second largest island in the Spratlys archipelago, second only to Itu Aba under the control of Taiwanese forces.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as an integral part of their respective maritime domain, a claim being contested by other countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

Unleashing her fury Monday last week over Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon, Nona exited the country via the West Philippine Sea.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the death toll left by Nona climbed to 41 yesterday.

Five fatalities were reported in Central Luzon, three in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), 14 in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), 10 in Bicol, eight in Eastern Visayas and one in Metro Manila.

The NDRRMC’s estimated cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure is from P1 billion to P4.9 billion – P2,127,799,492.98 in agriculture and P2,839,429,706.60 in infrastructure.

So far the government and non-government groups spent a total P85,819,530.90 worth in relief assistance, covering 63,016 families or 280,788 individuals still staying in various evacuation centers in four cities, 71 municipalities, and 14 towns of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas.