Rice Crops destroyed during Flash Floods in Miagao

ILOILO CITY – Unexpected flash floods in 42 barangays in Miagao, Iloilo on Sept. 6 have destroyed 241 hectares of rice crops as well as irrigation systems.

FLASH FLOOD. A damaged palay farm due to flash floods (FILE PHOTO)

In a phone interview on Wednesday, Miagao Mayor Macario Napulan said the “freak change in climate” has ruined 241.25 hectares of farmland with an estimated but invalidated damage of PHP4.32 million.

Some 36 households were also evacuated.

Dam was destroyed

The center dam of the Barangay Igcabitoon Communal Irrigation System and its concrete canal in Barangay Bacolod were also destroyed.

He said the town’s three major rivers -- Tumagboc, Bacauan, and Oyungan -- overflowed around 3 p.m. on Monday.

Napulan added the incident was like the destructive flash floods that happened during Typhoon Undang in 1984.

John Nocal, municipal administrator and municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer said the flash floods were due to heavy rains brought about by the localized thunderstorm as it happened a day before the landfall of "Jolina".

“We didn’t expect that the volume would be that huge because we only experienced light rains in the poblacion area. It was only in the upland areas that the rainfall was heavy,” he said, adding that most of those affected in the 42 barangays were farmers living along the river.

Municipal agriculturist Ma. Frea Monsale said the damaged palay crops were ready for harvest while those already harvested were carried away by the rushing waters.

She added that some of the affected farmers have already filed their notice of loss before the Philippine Crop Insurance System (PCIC).

The farmers would be given seeds but meantime, their office is just extending the assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Napulan said less than 50 individuals have been pre-emptively evacuated and staying with their families as severe tropical storm Jolina continues to bring rain in several areas of Western Visayas.

These are families staying along riverbanks and need to be transferred to elevated areas. (PNA)