Huge waves displace 235 families

A TOTAL of 235 families were affected when huge waves hit Talisay City’s five coastal barangays from Monday night, Oct. 11, 2021, to early Tuesday morning.

Local officials believed that the strong waves were caused by the yearly southwest monsoon or “habagat” that often occurs from June to October.

Felipa Solana, head of Talisay City’s Social Welfare and Development Office, said that majority of those affected were living in the coastlines of Barangays Poblacion, Dumlog, Tanke, San Roque and Cansojong.

Of the five barangays, Dumlog had the most number of affected residents with around 100 families or 340 individuals were already evacuated from the coastline.

One house in Dumlog was destroyed by the waves while 28 others suffered damage.

In Poblacion, 62 families or 281 individuals were affected with six houses destroyed and 59 others damaged.

While in Cansojong, 44 families or 194 individuals were displaced.

In Tanke, 26 families or 115 individuals were affected. While no houses were damaged, fisherfolk there reported that their fishing boats were destroyed by the strong waves.

While in San Roque, three families or 15 individuals were affected with only one fishing boat destroyed.

Solana said she and social welfare workers immediately gave food assistance to the affected residents.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas also ordered the CSWD to assess the needs of the affected residents.

In an interview with GMA 7’s Balitang Bisdak, Gullas said the City has allocated funds to extend their existing seawall as a way to protect those living in their coastal areas from seasonal waves. (REV / JKV)