Aurora town hailed for being disaster-resilient

CASIGURAN, Aurora , Philippines  – Residents in this municipality are disaster-resilient, as shown by the minimal number of fatalities caused by Typhoon Lando, a government official said.

Alexander Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said only two deaths were listed in this town, which was considered the “ground zero” of Lando.

“During our dialogue with residents and local government officials, we sensed that they are prepared for the disaster. We were able to buy food in the community, indicating they are self- sustained,” Pama told journalists here.

Pama, along with interior and local government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and social welfare and development Secretary Dinky Soliman led the distribution of relief goods in this town.

“This town is the ground zero in the eastern side, which is the hardest hit by Typhoon Lando,” Sarmiento said.

Aurora Gov. Gerardo Naveras thanked the national government for monitoring and assisting them before, during and after the typhoon.

Naveras said the typhoon affected 16,046 families or about 68,629 residents.

In Casiguran alone, Naveras said there were 5,000 families or 25,000 individuals affected by Lando.

“Damage to agriculture was placed at P200 million and P3.5 million in infrastructure, but the figure could be tripled. School buildings were also damaged,” Navares said.

Casiguran Mayor Reynaldo Bitong Jr. said despite the El Niño, farmers were able to plant, but Lando destroyed the crops.