TRECE MARTIRES CITY, CAvite (PIA) – Days after typhoon Paeng ravaged the eastern and western parts of Luzon, cities, and municipalities in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Quezon were left with severe devastation with millions lost in property, livelihood, and agricultural crops.

The municipality of Noveleta was among those who suffered the worst disaster which according to municipal town Mayor Dino Reyes-Chua was unexpected.

According to Mayor Dino Chua, the raging flood waters came from the river because the flood-control dike particularly along the public market area gave way from the amount of water that continuously rushed down from the upland areas of Tagaytay, Maragondon, Ternate, and Silang.

“Noveleta is a catch basin for rainwater coming from the upland towns, and the continued rainfall coupled with the high tide level caused the immediate rise of the water that broke down the river dikes, and the water entered into the barangays of San Antonio, and San Juan,” the Mayor recounted.

Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWDO) Officer Jinky Sidocon stated, “We were prepared and yet unprepared. We had evacuated two barangays along the coastal area, San Rafael III and IV during the pre-emptive evacuation, and brought the families to the town’s evacuation centers.”

MDRRMO reports said that ten out of sixteen barangays in the municipality were affected by the typhoon.

MSWDO Officer Sidocon said, “What made it even worst is that the water came with timbers, trash, and other debris that caused more devastation.”

This was a very traumatizing event especially for the children because there was a report of children trapped in a van that was washed away by the heavy water current during the typhoon onslaught.

“These children that experienced these horrific events must be given psychological first aid,” Sidocon said.

Barangay San Jose II Chairman Jay Lontoc stayed up and remained on duty for rescue operations all throughout the onslaught of typhoon Paeng.

“This is the worst flooding ever experienced by our town since typhoon Ondoy. The water level submerged the barangays near the river, and families were forced to get on top of the roof or seek shelter from neighbors who have two-storey houses,” Lontoc told reporters.

As the water receded, the aftermath of the disaster dawned on the residents with their houses and what was left of their belongings buried in mud.

“An estimated Php100M in livelihood was lost or damaged due to the flooding. Stores and commercial establishments could not operate because most of the merchandise is soaked, and covered with mud,” Mayor Chua stated.

He hopes that things will normalize for his town in a week, with electric power slowly restored, work in government offices, and in business establishments to resume, and the children can go back to their schools.

The town chief appeals to the neighboring cities and towns for support: financial assistance to help with rebuilding the houses damaged during the typhoon; relief goods because people could not go to work; manpower and equipment especially with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) fire trucks to help with hosing down the mud to speed up the cleaning of the offices, and schools in the town.

The Provincial Government of Cavite had recently declared a state of calamity in the province. (RBF/PIA-Cavite)