Sablayan, OccMin dike damaged by strong Gener currents

A seawall in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro was damaged by strong currents from Amnay River due to Tropical Depression Gener and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. 

According to Bam Alegre’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, one of the residents captured on cellphone the cracks in the protection dike in Barangay Claudio Salgado. 

Hence, the local government had to work over time in clearing operations when Tropical Storm Helen entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday. 

Roderick Sanchez said that his family had to evacuate their home near the seawall. 

“Nalungkot po kami dahil nga po nakita namin na nagka-ganyan na naman. Eh di minsan lingguhan na naman kami sa evacuation,” he said. 

(We were saddened that this happened again. Sometimes we'd have to stay at the evacuation center a week.) 

With the non-stop heavy downpour and continuous flooding in portions of Sablayan, farmers like Jordan Acaac were also heavily affected. 

Acaac said had borrowed money to buy seeds. But now most of his crops have been ruined. 

“Nasira po nang pagbabad po, nabubulok po yung palay. Siyempre pag hinarvest na po ‘yan, kung uminit man, wala na rin aanihin… babad na po,” he said. 

(They were damaged after being submerged in water, so the rice is now rotting. We cannot harvest them even if the sun shines again.) 

Sablayan Mayor Walter Marquez was also frustrated with the impact of the weather on the locality’s agriculture. 

“Ang epekto nito sa amin ay sa sektor ng ating mga magsasaka…nagaantay na lang tayo ng tag-init at marami sa atin ay mag-aani na, pero dahil sa pagdating ng Habagat nasira ang ating mga palayan,” he said. 

(The most affected by this is our farmers…They were waiting for the summer and many are already reaping their crops, but thebHabagat damaged most of our rice fields.) 

Both Gener and Helen have already exited the country, but both continue to strengthen the Habagat and bring strong to gale-force gusts throughout the country, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News