Flash floods damage Zambo farms

THE RECENT flash floods brought about by heavy rains had destroyed over 96 hectares of farmland planted with rice, corn and high value commercial crops here and affected 104 farmers, the City Agriculturist Office reported.

It said damage to crops have reached nearly P7 million.

City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez said Vitali, Curuan and Ayala districts were most affected by the floods, adding, some 1,597 families in five barangays were displaced by flash floods - 1,102 families are in Vitali; 12 in Mangusu; 312 in Talisayan; 126 in Patalon and 45 in Labuan.

Chief social worker Socorro Rojas said family food packs and hygiene kits were distributed to the affected families in temporary evacuation centers.

Mayor Beng Climaco also led the distribution of food packs to the evacuees.

Political trolls again blamed Climaco for the flooding and even faulted her for the heavy rains.

Last month, Climaco reminded residents, especially those who live near foothills, seaside and riverbanks, including in low-lying barangays, to take extra precautions after weather experts predicted at least 5 more tropical cyclones to enter the country before the year ends.

“We need to take extra precautions and be prepared for the worst as more storms are expected until end of the year,” Climaco said after typhoon Noul (Leon) hit the country and flooded many areas, including Zamboanga City where it destroyed croplands and rice fields. It also displaced many families, especially in Barangay Talisayan and Ayala.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA said more tropical cyclones enter the country than anywhere else in the world. 

With an average of 20 cyclones entering the country every year, it said about 8 or 9 cross the country and that the peak of the typhoon season is July through October, when nearly 70% of all typhoons develop.

The mayor ordered the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to always be on alert and to quickly respond to emergencies, and for barangay officials to monitor the situation in their respective areas and to take appropriate actions if the situation calls for it. 

Climaco said PAGASA also warned of La Niña which can bring more rains in comings months. Citing a report by PAGASA, she said the country may experience higher chance of strong convective activity and tropical cyclone occurrence which may bring above normal rainfall. “Potential adverse impacts also include floods and landslide over vulnerable areas with varying magnitude,” she said, quoting the weather bureau. (Zamboanga Post)

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