21 roads in Batangas remain impassable after Kristine — PDRRMO

Twenty-one road sections in Batangas remain impassable due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, according to the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

In Maki Pulido’s Tuesday report on 24 Oras, some barangays remain isolated after a part of the Talisay-Laurel-Agoncillo Road was damaged due to the mud and fallen trees brought by the rough currents.

Residents said two barangays and a sitio in the town of Agoncillo are isolated as a road in Laurel was also damaged.

Excavators from the Department of Public Works and Highways are dumping soil to make the road passable but workers said the repair may take a month to complete.

Residents said there are two ways to reach the center of Agoncillo: via wooden boats on the lake or by walking along the muddy slopes at the base of the mountain.

Those who choose to travel by foot have to endure uneven roads, mud and fallen trees.

A half-buried truck and damaged houses along the road are stark proof of the devastation caused by the storm.

Along the side of the Laurel- Agoncillo Road, a sign says that the P96 million construction, rehabilitation and slope protection project was completed on Feb. 14, 2024.

Residents are still prohibited from returning to their homes but some were forced to go back to look for food.

Among them was Beverly Evangelista, who only had P60 left.

Evangelista said she did not know what to do in the following days as the flood took away the two boats they used to fish in the lake.

“Kasi wala na po kaming mapupuntahan dito kasi galing pa kami ng Mindoro dito lang kami naghahanap buhay,” Evangelista said.

(We have nowhere to go here. We came here from Mindoro to make a living.)

Evangelista’s house was also damaged as the ground underneath eroded. Once they leave the evacuation center, they have nowhere to go.

“Sobrang hirap po talaga kasi wala na po kaming mababalikan na bahay, kasi ‘di naman pwedeng tirahan ito kasi buo po yung loob niya pero yung ilalim walang laman. Ang mga anak po namin ‘di makapasok...kasi po walang madaanan, saka syempre nasa evacuation po kami,” Evangelista said.

(It’s so difficult since we have no home to return to since the soil underneath our house has eroded despite it still standing. Our children cannot go to school since the roads are impassable and we are at the evacuation center.)

Residents of Agoncillo also shared the same sentiments.

More than 2,00 houses were severely damaged in Batangas.

“Talagang wala na, puro lupa talagang wash out na, pero wash out talaga pero ang bubong nandun pa,” said Desiree Madraso, a resident of Barangay Subic Ilaya, Agoncillo.

(There is nothing left. There is just mud, it's been washed out, only the roof is left.)

Several livelihoods were also affected, like the floating fish cage of Nelson Garces.

The other three fish cages were filled with dead fish while his fishnets were swept by the flood.

“Nasira ho ang aming floating, nalaglag po yung lambat, pati nga yung lambat, lumaglag na sa lupa, ‘di na ho nakita. Ubos na ubos po,” Garces.

(The floating fish cages were damaged, and the fishnets are gone. Everything is gone.)

Evangelista also sought help for their family’s pets, who also have nothing to eat.

The clearing operation in Batangas is ongoing.

According to the National NDRRM Council, fatalities due to Kristine and Typhoon Leon have climbed to 125.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News