Heavy rains have caused floods in two towns in the second district of Northern Samar.
Vice Governor Gary M. Lavin has convened the Northern Samar Provincial Risk Management Council to assess the situation in Catubig and Las Navas towns, reported Manila Bulletin.
Northern Samar 2nd District Rep. Edwin C. Ong said he and Governor Jose L. Ong Jr. have sent 1,000 sacks of rice to the two municipalities to be distributed to the flood victims. Ong said each town was given 500 sacks, the report said.
Ong reportedly attributed the rains to the tail end of a cold front. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Northern Samar usually receives around 440 millimeters of rain in December but the actual rainfall in the province this month has reached 331mm.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office District Engineer Ferdinand Briones said all roads in his area are now passable.
Briones was quoted as saying that a number of slope protection structures were damaged by the rains and only one lane has been opened in the national roads in Northern Samar’s 2nd district.
Col. Mario Lacurom of the Philippine Army reportedly told Manila Bulletin the floodwaters in Catubig and Las Navas were knee deep.
