The PIA Kalibo, Aklan reported that one week after "Seniang" hit Aklan, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) in Kalibo, Aklan finally released its consolidated report on the damages wrought by the typhoon in Aklan except one municipality which failed to submit.
The PDCC, chaired by Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez and manned by Provincial Civil Defense Executive Officer Ret. P/Maj. Paquito S. Saratiosa, revealed that the typhoon damage reached P478,742,365.50 brought about by destructions of lifelines (roads, bridges, telephone and electricity); structures (schools, hospitals, government offices); agriculture crops, fisheries and poultry/livestock.
Hardest hit are the towns of Malay (where Boracay Island belongs) with P118,504,780.00 total damage; Ibajay, P100,805,000.00; Nabas, P87,195,000.00; and Buruanga, P66,930,000.00. These municipalities are all located in the western side of Aklan.
There are still areas in these municipalities without electricity.
Towns in the eastern side of Aklan also incurred damages and experienced deep and strong floods, however, those which are landlocked had minimal damage because there are no fishponds. It reported no damage in agriculture crops and structures.
Houses which were totally destroyed reached 2,621 mostly in the western part of Aklan making 11,512 persons homeless. Some 10 persons including a one-year old girl were reported dead, 82 were injured and 1 remains missing.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Kalibo, declared Aklan in a State of Calamity, enabling Governor Carlito S. Marquez to authorize the release of calamity fund to address the financial requirements of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the provincial government.
The resolution also enables government workers of Aklan to avail of calamity loans. The Pag-IBIG fund in Kalibo has already started receiving applications for Calamity Loans of members. This is the first time for Pag-IBIG to grant this kind of loan in Aklan.
On the other hand, government employees in Aklan are also waiting for the official announcement/directive of GSIS executives as to the availment of Moratorium on Loan Repayments of GSIS members in typhoon-affected areas for five months starting December 2006 until April 2007 as published in major newspapers, as well as Calamity Loans of P10,000.00 up to P15,000.00 depending on their record of creditable services; longer repayment period; lower amortization; and waiver of penalties and surcharges.
Boracay Suffers P44M Damage From ‘Seniang’
Nestor P. burgos, Jr., reported typhoon "Seniang" (international codename: Utor) inflicted damages on the vacation island of Boracay valued at least P44 million.
Susan Trinidad, executive director of the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), which is composed of the owners of resorts, restaurants and other businesses on the island, said damages to structures of resorts and other businesses reached P35 million.
This amount does not include the speedboats, yachts, and motorboats damaged or destroyed by the strong winds and huge waves that hit the island on December 9 and 10, Trinidad said.
At least 45 resorts incurred damages after strong winds toppled electric posts, uprooted trees and pried off roofing materials, according to a report of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO). The island has more than 200 resorts, hotels, restaurants and other business establishment.
Two boat operators died at the height of the typhoon and two others remain missing, officials said. But the Department of Tourism (DOT) and resort owners said the damages had "minimal effect" on tourist arrivals on the island although the BFI said it would take at least two weeks before the situation returns to normal.
Helen Camarista, DOT assistant regional director in Western Visayas, said they have received reports of cancellations of reservations for 12 rooms in two resorts.
"The resorts are still fully booked especially by balikbayans [Filipinos returning from abroad] and foreigners who will spend their Christmas and New Year on the island," Camarista said.
Trinidad said the bulk of tourists are expected to arrive this week, when the island would have substantially recovered from the effects of the typhoon.
She placed the cost of lost income due to cancellations at P2 million although she added they are still waiting for reports from their members.
Transportation between Boracay and Caticlan, the jump-off point from the Aklan mainland, remained crippled as up to 60 percent of boats were damaged or set adrift by the winds and sea currents.
AFTER TYPHOON
Electricity, water and internet connection had been restored two days after the strong winds and heavy rain toppled electric posts, uprooted trees and damaged houses and resorts.It took about two weeks before operations of the popular island-resort is back to normal, Nenette Aguirre-Graf, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc., a group of owners of resorts, restaurants and other businesses on the island, said.
Residents who lost their homes temporarily stayed at school buildings or with relatives, said Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores. Senior Insp. Christopher Prangan, acting chief of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office, said 45 resorts were damaged and 63 passenger motorboats were damaged or missing.Around 768 houses have been damaged or destroyed in the island’s three villages—372 in Yapak, 240 in Balabag and 156 in Manoc-Manoc.
Two boat operators identified as Raffy Andrade and Panfilo Navarette died at the height of the typhoon. Two others identified as Mario Magallanes and Edmar Aban were missing, said Prangan. Miraflores said the typhoon battered the northwestern area of Aklan especially the towns of Malay, Nabas and Ibajay. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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