Tedday2223
Member
TACLOBAN CITY—While Mindanao continues to reel from last week’s intense rains that displaced over half a million residents, heavy rains spawned by a low pressure area (LPA) have also caused flooding and landslides in several areas in Visayas since Wednesday. In Leyte province, 246 families composed of 940 individuals evacuated to barangay halls due to flooding since Wednesday, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD 8). Lawyer Jonalyndie Chua, regional information officer of DSWD 8, on Thursday said that among those flooded areas in Leyte were Baybay City and the towns of Isabel, Matag-ob and Palompon. Also flooded were the towns of Arteche, Quinapondan and Llorente in Eastern Samar. “We are ready to provide food assistance to these affected families,” she said. Chua said their office has prepositioned over 129,000 food packs, ready for distribution to areas affected by the flooding caused by the LPA. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Eastern Visayas has suspended interisland trips, including the Kawayan-Biliran-Naval routes in Biliran province, starting at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. “The suspension of sea travel is expected to be lifted once the weather improves,” the PCG said in a statement. At 3 p.m. on Thursday, the LPA was estimated in the vicinity of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro while the southwest monsoon was affecting Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).