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GMA Network
16 hours ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Baguio, La Trinidad recovering from impact of Habagat, cyclones
BAGUIO CITY – Following heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and back-to-back cyclones in July, Baguio City and La Trinidad in Benguet are still recovering from the damage left behind by the weather systems. In an interview during the unveiling of the Artificial Groundwater Recharge Facility in La Trinidad, municipal mayor Roderick Awingan said that strawberry and vegetable farmers lost their crops and would have to wait up to 45 days before producing another harvest. 'Kita naman natin, talagang walang bunga. Sira lahat ng bunga ng strawberries natin… Lahat ng highland vegetables, nadamage sila, kaya may pinagbago ang presyo natin sa merkado. Halos mataas na lahat. Maguumpisa palang [ang recovery] barely one week siguro, magtatanim pa sila. That would take them about 30 to 45 days,' he shared. (As we can see, there really are no fruits. All of our strawberry buds were destroyed… All of the highland vegetables were damaged, which is why market prices have changed. [Recovery] is just starting, barely one week, they're still replanting. That would take them about 30 to 45 days.) Awingan said that they have recorded almost P17 million in agricultural damages around the municipality, adding that this might reach an estimated P30 million once they have finished the full report. 'Di naman namatay [ang crops], nasira lang mga buds for possible fruits. Madedelay [lang ang harvest by] a couple of weeks. Sa ngayon, konti ang supply,' he said. ([The crops] didn't exactly die, it's just that the buds for possible fruits were destroyed. [The harvest will get delayed by] a couple of weeks. As of now, there's less supply.) After declaring a state of calamity, Awingan said that they were able to access the municipality's Quick Response Fund (QRF) for assistance for farmers, as well as enlist the help of agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for relief packs and farm inputs. Despite this, he shared that La Trinidad is still at the mercy of the weather. 'We have a problem with the volume of rainwater. That, we cannot control. We also have a problem with the existing drainage system… We will be conducting a pre-disaster assessment. Our offices will be conducting the necessary adjustments. All we can do is pray,' he said. Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that after conducting an assessment and needs in the city, the impact of the cyclones did not yet call for a declaration of a state of calamity. 'We never declared [a state of calamity] because we did not qualify based on established parameters. Besides, we are very resilient here; we were able to immediately mobilize, adjust according to concerns. But we sustained heavy damage, too," he said, citing the landslides that blocked some roads. Magalong said that the damage affected the city's tourism numbers. 'It's affecting our tourism industry and at the same time the convenience of our travellers,' he said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Cebu City declares state of calamity following massive flooding
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council placed the city under a state of calamity on Friday, July 18, 2025, following massive flooding that sent communities inundated, and caused terrible traffic jams. The City Budget Office has assured sufficient funds for the Quick Response Fund to respond to needs. In a meeting, the Cebu City DRRMC tackled the massive flooding on July 16, 2025 due to intense rainfall dumped by the southwest monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by Tropical Cyclone Crising. The meeting discussed the need to further desilt and declog waterways; one of which is Tejero Creek that has long been identified as flood prone. Raquel Arce, chief of the Cebu City Traffic Office, discussed the challenges in dealing with persistent floods in Bonifacio and Lopez Jaena Streets. Engineer Lowell Corminal, chief of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), underscored the need for an amphibious excavator to clean up waterways, and more job order personnel (JOs) to help collect garbage and mud accumulating in these waterways. "Careful lang ta kay dapat ang amphibious nato moigo sa constricted river intake," Corminal said. As for Engr. Jose Marie Poblete, former City Engineering Office chief, he said that JOs complement City Hall services. "Mawaá gani ning mga tawhana, even for one week, two weeks, moapektar dayon sila sa atong mga trabaho ba kay mao man gud sila ang mga kamot ug tiil sa mga department kining mga JO," Poblete pointed out. Mercy Della Ceballos, City Budget Office supervising administrative officer, assured sufficient funds for the Local Disaster Fund that can be used to meet the needs for further desilting and declogging operations. "Out of the 810 (million), 12 million, 350 ra ang naay process for payments. Naa tay unobligated balance of 197 million," Ceballos said. Moreover, Mayor Nestor Archival directed expediting the hiring of 35 job order personnel under the Cebu City Engineering Office for the collection of debris during the desilting and declogging works. "Ang desilting nato, magsugod gyud, gikan gyud ta sa babâ, sa dagat padung diri sa ibabaw. And now we don't have that equipment, ang atong mga equipment dili man makahimo ana," Archival said. The Cebu City DRRMO vowed linkages with barangays. "Atong gi-implement ang Incident Command System sa atong Cebu City Government, nag- link na sab ta sa atong mga barangay, 60 percent pa ang atong na-link ang sa pagkakaron," said Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City DRRMO. — via Albert Aballe/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak/ GMA Regional TV
GMA Network
11-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos open to having another power provider in Siquijor
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is open to the possibility of having another electric provider in Siquijor amid the power crisis in the province. In an ambush interview on Wednesday, Marcos was asked if it is possible for Siquijor to have another electric provider. This came after he directed an investigation into the operations of the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR). ''Everything is on the table. We just have to examine what is the best solution. We have some very good ideas na. The NEA administrator is here and he has put out a framework on what we need to attend to, what would come first, etc. We will give you more detail after the detailed planning for that,'' he said. According to Marcos, the government has six months to implement the short-term interventions to address the power crisis, including the use of generators. In that six months, he emphasized the need ''to repair damage that has been caused by the collapse of the power supply.'' ''We have given ourselves a deadline of six months for the short-term solution. By six months from now, we will then impose whatever new arrangements that we have to do, so that six months from now, we do not have to resort to emergency genset,'' he said. The President also said SIPCOR should live up to its commitments in providing electric supply in the province. Meanwhile, Marcos said two generator sets would arrive in the province from Palawan to provide power supply to residents. The provincial government of Siquijor through its Sangguniang Panlalawigan has declared a state of calamity due to the worsening power crisis. The approved resolution will empower the provincial government of Siquijor to access its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), specifically the Quick Response Fund (QRF), to implement immediate interventions. Marcos inspected the SIPCOR power plant in Siquijor to address the recurring power interruptions in the province and to ramp up actions to address the power supply deficiencies.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos orders probe into Siquijor electric co-op amid power crisis
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has directed an investigation into the operations of the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR). According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, outgoing Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and officer-in-charge Undersecretary Sharon Garin were already summoned to resolve the power situation in Siquijor province. Short-term and long-term solutions are being enforced to address the power crisis in the area, Castro said. The provincial government of Siquijor through its Sangguniang Panlalawigan has declared a state of calamity due to the worsening power crisis. The approved resolution will empower the Provincial Government of Siquijor to access its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), specifically the Quick Response Fund (QRF), to implement immediate interventions. Provincial Board Member Brylle Deeiah Tumarong-Quio said the declaration was based on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) during its 2nd Quarter Meeting presided by Governor Jake Vincent Villa on May 29, 2025, following "widespread and prolonged power outages attributed to the breakdown of several power generation units operated by the Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR)." 'The situation has led to a critical shortfall of approximately 2,250KW, severely affecting electricity supply across the province," she said. Meanwhile, Castro said Marcos is also monitoring the situation at San Juanico Bridge, which will be rehabilitated. Authorities said the restrictions on San Juanico Bridge could result in up to P600 million monthly economic losses as 14,000 vehicles cross the infrastructure daily. — BM, GMA Integrated News
