STA. TERESITA, Cagayan – The Incident Command System (ICS) established in this town has equalled the strength of super typhoon Lawin (international name Hayma) in terms of preparations which resulted in zero casualty and moderate effect of the latter, according to Mayor Lolita Garcia.
Garcia said the preparations of the town as an aftermath of a series of trainings funded by the United Nations Worldfood Program (UNWP) plus the establishment of ICS , was tested during the onslaught of Lawin which brought millions of damage to crops and properties in most part of the province. Severely hit, according to reports, was Tuguegarao City.
“The effects and adaptability of the various trainings sponsored by UNWP for the town last year was tested by Lawin. We credit our ICS for the town’s performance during a strong typhoon like Lawin, “ Garcia said.
The pre-emptive evacuation efforts for some 1,518 persons in all 13 barangays, managed by four teams named after the main characters of a GMA 7 fantaserye ‘Encantadia’ brought zero damage to lives during those hours when Lawin unleashed its fury.
Last year, UNWP, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development, identified Sta. Teresita as one of the handful beneficiaries of its funding projects particularly on capacity-building among local government units in Cagayan.
Considered as the youngest province in Cagayan, Sta. Teresita has always been prone to natural disasters as its former rich forest areas have been logged until late 1980s. Some of its barangays are now flood-prone as a result of logging.
By 2:00 this afternoon, some 18 families who lost their houses will receive construction materials from the local government unit under a cash for work program. The materials have been bought from the local dealers here.
The minimal damage to fisheries should be significant at only P180,000.00 as Sta. Teresita contributes significantly to the total fish sufficiency level of Cagayan Valley, now placed at only 44 percent, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Meanwhile, DATAJ Farms in Barangays Caniogan and Simbaluca report no significant losses in terms of production and structure. The farm is considered the biggest vannamae farm in the country today. Benjie De Yro/TNF
