The Palawan Disaster Risk Reduction Office said on Wednesday that Tropical Depression (TD) Verbena had forced more than 1,250 families to leave their homes in several municipalities in the north and central parts of the province.
The Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), led by Jerry Alili, said in a situation report released at 8 a.m. on November 26 that Verbena affected 3,687 people, or 1,256 families, in the towns of Agutaya, Araceli, Cagayancillo, Cuyo, Coron, Culion, Linapacan, San Vicente, and Taytay.
They found shelter in 45 evacuation centers in different towns, and 370 people, or 119 families, stayed with their relatives for a short time. PDRRMO said that Governor Amy Alvarez told them to keep an eye on the situation in the affected areas through their Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
“Wala pang naiuulat na pinsala sa aspeto ng agrikultura at imprastraktura maliban sa isang partially damaged house sa Brgy. Abagat, Agutaya,” the PDRRMO said through the Palawan Provincial Information Office.
The Philippine Coast Guard canceled sea travel in several ports in towns affected by the bad weather because of Verbena. Classes were also suspended yesterday.
There were also reports of water levels rising in some places, such as Brgy. Apurawan, Aborlan, and some barangays in Cagayancillo, as well as in the town of Rizal. The floods went down quickly, and the main roads stayed open.
In some parts of Agutaya, Busuanga, and Coron, the power went out. In El Nido, some barangays had to shut down as a safety measure to protect the area’s water treatment plant.
The signals from different phone companies in Cuyo and Magsaysay are still not stable.
