Dilasag, Aurora residents appeal for aid after Nika

The entirety of Dilasag, Aurora was affected by Tropical Storm Nika after it made landfall at the town on Tuesday morning.

According to a 24 Oras report by Darlene Cay on Tuesday, residents are calling for aid due to the damage to the municipality despite Nika being only a few hours in the area.

“Sana may ayuda naman na dumating sa amin. Wala nang makain, yun po ang problema namin ngayon,” shared resident Larry Viaje.

(Hopefully help will arrive for us. There’s no more food to eat, that is our problem now.)

Throughout Dilasag, many trees were felled by strong winds while several houses and structures showed massive damage.

“[Nakakapit] na lang po ako kasi sobrang lakas. Tapos yung kinakapitan ko naman po, aangat-angat siya kaya natatakot po talaga ako. [Nakaka]takot sa sobrang lakas ng hangin. Ngayon ko lang po naranasan. Kaya po nung nakaraan, pero ngayon grabe eh,” said Leonita Vallespin.

([I was holding on to a wooden post] because the winds were too strong. The post I was holding on was also being lifted by the wind so I was really scared. I was afraid by the strength of the winds. I only experienced this now. I could take it before, but it was too much now.)

“Naaalala ko po kahapon yung nangyari. Umiiyak nga po ako. Akala ko pati yung bahay namin, umuuga sa lakas ng hangin. Nagdadasal po ako. Sabi ko, tama na po, ihinto mo na po,” said another townsfolk, Milagros Pines.

(I still remember what happened yesterday. I was crying a lot. I thought our house would be destroyed, it was shaking due to the strong winds. I prayed. I pleaded, no more, please stop this.)

Barangays Diagyan, Lawang and Ura were isolated due to the strong current and the high level of water from a nearby river.

Residents were also unable to contact the three barangays, and were unable to deliver aid due to the swollen river.

“Pinipilit po naming macontact sila ngayon pero dahil sila ay isolated sila gawa po ng ilog, kahit umaraw ngayong maghapon ay ‘di pa rin kami makatawid,” said Dilasag Mayor Joe Gorospe.

(We are trying to contact them now, but because they are isolated due to the river, we are still unable to cross even if the sun shines all day.)

Meanwhile, floods managed to subside in the neighboring town of Casiguran, leaving behind 100 fallen banana trees in a plantation.

“Umiyak man, wala rin tayong magawa dahil bagyo,” said farmer Reynaldo Protestades.

(Even if we cry, there’s nothing we can do because it was a typhoon.)

It would take four years for the banana plants to regrow and bear fruit.The government has already begun distribution of family food packs to affected residents. It has also started  conducting cleaning operations to clear out fallen debris from roads and properties.

Meanwhile, electricity and communication lines have yet to return to Casiguran and Dilasag.

Aurora remains on alert for other incoming typhoons that might hit the province .

“Kailangan lang talaga yung paghahanda para maiwasan 'yung may masawing buhay. ‘Yung pwedeng ayusin, yung mga kabahayan, dapat huwag nating ipagsawalang bahala ang ating mga tahanan. Kailangang matibay yan. Kung kailangang lumikas, talagang pinapalikas namin. Inaagapan na namin,” said Engineer Elson Egargue of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

(Preparation is really necessary to avoid the loss of life. What we can fix, our homes, we shouldn’t take it lightly. It should be sturdy. If evacuation is needed, we make sure residents evacuate. We make an effort to preempt it.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News