Habagat rains flood parts of Mimaropa but leaves region with minimal damages

CALAPAN CITY, September 20 (PIA): Social welfare and development offices in Calintaan and Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro attended to 1,893 families  who were moved to 8 evacuation centers following days of torrential rains brought about by Habagat (Southwest Monsoon).

Habagat was intensified by Typhoon Mario sending heavy rains to Luzon's seaboards including Mimaropa, one of the country's front gates at the West Philippine Sea.

Occidental Mindoro, particularly Calintaan, had been under heavy downpour  since Thursday (November 18) that flooded several barangays (including Sitio Mabanlik, in Barangay Poblacion and Barangay Malpalon) and caused spillways (Anahawin and Villabeck) to overflow.

Office of Civil Defense-Mimaropa's (OCD-Mimaropa) latest report (Sitrep No. 4) said both spillways are  now passable except for Pola Spillway in Barangay Barahan, Sta. Cruz town where a number of commuters were stranded.

At least three houses in Calintaan were reported to be completely destroyed by bad weather.

Aside from Calintaan, some barangays in other municipalities were also inundated such as   the barangays of Magarin, Bubog and Poblacion 3, 7 and 8 of San Jose; Calawag of Magsaysay; Payumpon and Sitio Aroma of Barangay Tayamaan of Mamburao; Barangays 1-6 and 10 and Lumangbayan of Paluan.

Barangays Taclobo and Poblacion of San Fernando in Romblon likewise experienced flooding.

With the weather improving (regionwide as forecasted by Pagasa-DOST Friday night) and flood waters reciding, evacuees are expected to return to their homes soon.

From 1,168  (in Calapan, Romblon and Mamburao), the number of stranded sea passengers was cut down to 70 as reported recently Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog to OCD-Mimaropa (Sitrep #4).

These remaining passengers were mostly in Romblon. (Lyndon Plantilla)