TYPHOON SENIANG
Relief operations ongoing for displaced families
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Gov. Carlito Marquez said Typhoon Seniang damaged mostly infrastructure and houses in the northern towns of Aklan, including the famed island of Boracay. Relief operations for affected families is underway, he added.
The powerful typhoon Seniang (international codename: Utor) caused rising floodwaters at the Aklan River, affecting low-lying areas and power outages in the entire province midnight of Saturday.
Marquez said he is closely coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) to determine the extent of damages to lives and properties in the area.
"The towns badly affected by the typhoon are Nabas, Ibajay, Malay and Buruanga - houses, fishponds and agricultural crops were destroyed," he pointed out over DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo.
The province is under the state of calamity and some P10-million calamity funds are available to address the rehabilitation and relief of displaced families in the entire province.
The governor added that the typhoon also ripped off the roofings of Caticlan jetty port and terminal, the main-off jump point to Boracay, and its surrounding glasses were damaged, costing P2 million.
"The relief operations for those affected by the strong typhoon is our top priority," he added.
The Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) restored the power in Brgy. Poblacion. this town, at 5 p.m. Monday while potable water services provided by the Boracay Water Sewerage System (BWSS) in the island of Boracay will be restored this week.
At least two persons were killed including a boat operator of Paradise Garden Resort and four others missing over the weekend.
The streets of downtown Kalibo from Ceres Bus terminal to Kalibo public market, C. Laserna area near the Aklan River were also affected by knee-deep floodwaters causing motorists and bystanders to slow down. Heavy rains also inundated the eastern part of Aklan, particularly the towns Numancia and Banga.
At least three trees inside the Kalibo Pastrana Park were toppled by the typhoon and telephone and internet lines were cut off.
Marquez is expected to conduct inspection from the towns of Buruanga and Malay to determine the damages unleased by Seniang. Reports said the roofing of the covered court in Buruanga and the seawall in New Washington were also damaged by the typhoon.
“The flashfloods, about five-feet deep, hit low-lying areas and swept houses made of light materials along the riverbanks, and destroyed rice fields and corn farms,” said Ret. Major Paquito Saratiosa of PDCC Aklan.
Kalibo Pastrana Park across the C. Laserna area was made as “temporary shelter” of animals and vehicles affected by floodwaters, and the Aklan Sports Complex as temporary evacuation center of displaced families.