Marce-ravaged Pagudpud now brace for Ofel

Residents in the coastal town of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte are still reeling from the battering of Typhoon Marce, but have to brace themselves anew for the impact of another typhoon —Ofel.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Darlene Cay, the Pasaleng Elementary School was used an evacuation center but was severely damaged at the height of Marce.

Portions of walls collapsed, roofs were ripped off, and the reading center and clinic were almost flattened by the rains and winds of the typhoon.

Residents who have barely fixed their homes, or what's left of them, are told anew to evacuate to safer grounds.

“Nakadudurog po ng puso kasi ito [ay] school. Lahat ng bata, dito sila pumupunta. Pagkatapos ng Marce, hindi makapasok ang mga mag-aaral kasi hindi po safe,” said teacher Kristine Caliyo.

(It’s heartbreaking because this is a school. All the children go here. After Marce, the students couldn’t go because it wasn’t safe.)

“Siyempre, malakas na si Marce. Sabi nila, mas malakas pa si Ofel. Ang kinakatakot namin, baka mas lalong masira ang school namin. E paano naman? Siyempre kawawa ang mga bata,” she added.

(Of course, Marce was already strong. They said Ofel would be stronger. What we’re scared of is it could further damage our school. What can we do? The children are pitiful.)

The school has shifted to module learning as the students could not go to the damaged school for two weeks now.

Several teachers still visit the school to help secure some reading materials and other items from getting wet.

The town is under a state of calamity to allow the local government to tap into their calamity funds.

Resident appealed for help form the government.

“Hihingi po sana kami ng tulong. Tulungan niyo po sana kami, kasi nilipad ang bahay namin,” said resident Jocelyn Rabe.

(We are asking for help. I hope they can help us, because the storm blew away our house.)

“Mahirap, ma’am, kasi nagbakwit kami kahit malakas ang ulan. Lumipad lahat ng mga bubong namin. Pumasok ang buhangin. Hanggang tuhod ang buhangin sa bahay namin,” added Pagudpud resident Josie Abian.

(It’s hard because we evacuated even when the rain was heavy. All our roofs were blown away. Sand got in. The sand inside our house reached our knees.)

Damage was also apparent in the seawall in Barangay Poblacion.

“Kapag malakas po ang alon sa may shoreline, nakikita natin na sobrang devastated na ang seawall, so may possibility na kakainin ang mga bahay sa community na ito, lalo na tuwing may bagyo. Matataas po kasi ang alon dito,” added Pagudpud MDRRMO officer Hendrick Pedrolan.

(The waves are strong. The seawall is heavily damaged, there's a possibility that the waves will reach the coastal community during typhoons.)

Pedrolan said the town needs rehabilitation and more funds to start it.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News