Rescue ops persist as flood rises in Oriental Mindoro

Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor has requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the entire province of Oriental Mindoro under a state of calamity due to the widespread damage caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical storm Dante, and typhoon Emong.

According to Dolor, this was one of the worst floods the province has ever experienced, with a total of 72 barangays submerged following continuous heavy rainfall.

Many rivers also overflowed, including the province's major rivers Bucayao and Panggalaan.

Among the areas currently experiencing floods as deep as four feet include Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Calapan City, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Gloria, and Bongabong.

Several major roads are impassable, including parts of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway in Bucayao and Panggalaan in Calapan City, Sampuguita in Naujan, and Santa Rosa–Burbuli in Baco.

The national road in San Isidro–Aninuan, Puerto Galera, is also not passable due to a landslide.

According to the governor, they were caught off guard by the rapid surge of floodwaters.

“Ang gate ng bahay ko ay wasak” said Dolor.

Hundreds of residents in Calapan City have been rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard after their homes were submerged in floodwaters.

Up to 12 families were rescued from floods as deep as 3 feet in Sitios 3, 5, and 7 of Barangay Bucayao, while six families were rescued from Sitio Pulang Tubig in Barangay Gutad.

Many other residents have also been requesting rescue after getting trapped in their homes.

In Sitio Navotas 1 in Barangay Alag, a family with two children was rescued.

Rescue teams from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office used ropes to safely carry out evacuations as floodwaters surged after the Alag River overflowed.

As of Thursday afternoon, around 11,000 individuals have been affected by the flooding in Oriental Mindoro, with 216 families, or about 800 individuals, currently staying in evacuation centers.

Damage to agriculture is now estimated at over P15 million and power supply has yet to be restored in the province.