Erosion in Samar affects more families

published January 24, 2009 in BusinessWorld online

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to receive reports of families affected by coastal erosion caused by big waves in Samar.

In Llorente, Eastern Samar, at least 23 houses were destroyed as sand eroded brought about by big waves, the municipal social welfare and development office (MSWDO) yesterday reported.

Some houses were totally damaged by erosions while some owners deliberately destroyed makeshift houses and transferred these to safer grounds, said MSDWO chief Lucila Cardona in a mobile phone interview.

Since last week, some areas in Brgy. 8 of Llorente town have been affected with erosion and destroyed dilapidated houses disturbing at least 85 persons.

Ms. Cardona said the number of displaced families has tripled from only seven households affected during the weekend.

"We have prepared the Central Elementary Schools and the sports complex as evacuation centers but affected residents prefer to stay with their relatives or rebuild houses in safer areas," Ms. Cardona told BusinessWorld.

The local government unit provided food packs containing rice and sardines to displaced families. The village is prone to big waves and flooding.

"Big waves, generated by wind caused the coastal erosion," Ms. Cardona said.

The DSWD regional office is also set to deliver an additional 1,000 food packs to feed residents of two isolated islands off Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Vina Aquino, DSWD regional information officer, said the relief goods will be brought to Guiuan town anytime this week.

"We have enough stocks of food in our office if in case local government units (LGUs) asked for augmentation of their relief assistance. But still the LGUs are in the frontline in responding to the needs of affected families," Ms. Aquino told BusinessWorld.

The bulk of the food packs will be distributed in the nine barangays of Suluan and Homonhon islands. These have a combined population of 11,214. Some food packs will also be sent to the flood-hit areas of Dolores and Oras town in Eastern Samar, where some 620 families were affected.

Guiuan Mayor Analiza Kwan said residents of Manicani Island also demanded for relief goods. Food supply to the islands has been cut because the bad weather condition has prevented bancas from traversing the Pacific Ocean between the mainland and the islands.

"The stores on the isolated islands have run out of food since last week," Ms. Kwan said.

The first batch of relief assistance from DSWD was sent to Guiuan town last weekend through the Department of Public Works and Highways. DSWD operations division chief Virginia Idano said they were also preparing to undertake rehabilitation works after the delivery of relief goods.

Ms. Idano said project evaluation team officers have been sent to affected areas to determine the alternative livelihood activities that may be undertaken by the affected residents. — Sarwell Q. Meniano