Winds, rains damage houses in Dumanjug

CEBU, Philippines - Strong winds and rains destroyed a few houses along some coastal barangays in Dumanjug town in southern Cebu last Tuesday afternoon.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive officer Neil Sanchez described what hit the town as a “storm surge,” an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. It is caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean’s surface.

Sanchez said that before it occurred, they sent out thunderstorm advisories in Minglanilla, Tuburan, Aloguinsan, Toledo City, Barili and areas nearby.

Though Dumanjug was not in the advisory, it is adjacent to Barili.

A report from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office that reached the Capitol said that five houses were destroyed while two others were damaged, all in barangay Tangil.

But the PDRRMC report said that only three houses were destroyed while eight were partially damaged in four barangays.

Sanchez reported three houses damaged in Tangil; one destroyed and five damaged in Kanyuko; one house destroyed in Bitoon caused by a fallen tree; and another house destroyed in Tubod-Bitoon.

Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia also reported seven houses destroyed and nine damaged in barangays Kanyuko and Bitoon.

“Pasalamat ta sa Ginoo nga way naangol,” Garcia said. (Thank God no one was hurt.)

While the victims are now living with their relatives, Garcia said that they are provided with rice.

Governor Hilario Davide III was not informed yet of the incident but acting Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Evelyn Sinajon said they are just waiting for the assessment report to process the financial assistance.

Owners of each destroyed house will get P5,000 each while those who own the damaged ones will get P3,000.

“Nagpaabot lang mi sa ilang assessment usa ma-process ang financial assistance,” Sinajon told reporters.

The houses are owned by Marilou Arnado, 49 and Rofino Dupal-ag, 50, both of Barangay Tangil. Those who are from Barangay Kanyuko are Liezel Tumaquin, 50, Gemma Alejandro, 39, Lotidi Pasculado, 65, Graciano Balucos, 82 and Nicolize Betio, 53, whose house is totally wreck.

Police estimated the damage to be P60,000 as houses were made of light materials.

Insp. Rogelio Amoroso, police chief, estimated that more or less 30 individuals are affected.

Trees were also uprooted.

“Sa pagkakaron sila ra pud nag-ayo sa ilang mga balay,” Amoroso said in a phone interview. —(FREEMAN)