By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
BONIFACIO, Misamis Occidental, Nov 7 (PIA) – At least P21.4 million worth of government projects and properties here were damaged due to the floods brought about by Typhoon Ofel from October 24 to 25.
Heavy rains caused the Usogan River to overflow destroying the flood control structure that led the water to change its course and subsequently turned the ricefields into a vast lake, Mayor Samson R. Dumajug said.
No casualties and no injuries were reported, Dumanjug said. He is also chairperson of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), said.
About 704 families with 3,520 members were affected by floods that occurred in seven (7) barangays, namely: Lilo-an, Lower Usogan, Linconan, Tiaman, Bolinsong, D. Fernan and Digson.
Of this number, 136 families with 562 members were temporarily housed in evacuation centers that included two (2) public markets and a Parish Church, elementary school, resthouse, barangay hall and day care center, Dumanjug said.
Meanwhile, seven (7) wooden electric poles of the power lines in Linconan were damaged and submerged in floodwater, while one (1) spring box of the water lines in the same barangay suffered the same fate.
The 5.7 km. farm-to-market road in Tialulin worth P3.17 million was eroded and its gravel surface washed-out.
To flood control dikes collapsed. These were the 30-meter flood control dike in Lower Usogan worth P5.3 million, and the 25-meter flood control dike in Linconan worth P4.7 million.
About 164.25 hectares of ricefields were also flooded that resulted in a yield loss of some 575.2 metric tons worth P8.08 million, while 3.5 hectares of fishpond with tilapia species worth P15,000 were lost including two-week old piglets worth P3,600.
Other damages included the leaking of the water distribution pipes in Linconan and Tiaman worth P65,000 and P80,000, respectively, Dumanjug added.(RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)