BY DANTE M. SUDARIA
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL Governor Henry Oaminal has confirmed that there were 18 fatalities in the province during the aftermath of the shear line-driven storm that hit Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and some parts of the Bicol region.
In his report to the Department of National Defense (DND) OIC Usec. Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr, who conducted an assessment to the extent of damage in the province during his visit, the governor said as of December 28, five people had died in Aloran, five in Oroquieta City, three in Jimenez, one in Tudela, and three in Clarin.
The assessment made by the national government in Misamis Occidental was also attended by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Usec. Raymundo B. Ferrer.
“So we’re coming here to ask our Governor what we can do right away to help, and we’ll get other government agencies involved and meet with them to help,” said Usec Faustino during the briefing.
Faustino said he would convene with other government agencies to help the province in terms of infrastructure assistance, cash for work (TUPAD), and Integrated Livelihood Program (Kabuhayan) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other agencies.
GOVERNOR’S REPORT
Meanwhile, during the briefing, Governor Oaminal also told DND and OCD officials that some 5,116 families are now in different evacuation centers put up by the province and local government units (LGUs).
The affected families in the province include towns such as Oroquieta, with 825 families or 6,000 individuals in the evacuation area; Aloran, with 564 families or 1821 individuals; Panaon, with 151 families or 541 individuals; Jimenez, with 1532 families or 6447 individuals; Sincaban, with 303 families or 1247 individuals; and Tudela, with 759 families or 3,380 individuals.
Clarin town had 550 affected families or 2288 individuals, and Ozamiz had 45 families or 142 individuals affected. Lopez Jaena recorded 421 affected families or 1757 individuals; Plaridel had 182 affected families or 728 individuals; and Baliangao also recorded 5 affected families or 22 individuals, report said.
FATALITIES
In a progress report made by the Office of Civil Defense – RDRRMC Operations Center based in Cagayan de Oro City and furnished to MDNN by Regine James, Operations Center Duty Personnel – the identities of those who died in Misamis Occidental were already known, and they were: Fe Sencil, Jimenez, Misamis Occidental; Felicidad Dangcalan, 68, Jimenez, MisOcc; Mark Lester Dampas, 20, Tudela, MisOcc; Jestoni Lapat, 27, Tudela, MisOcc; Elenita Calamian, 43, Brgy Mialem, Oroquieta City; and Mario Sambiog, 70, Brgy Mialem, Oroquieta City.
Seven other reported fatalities but still to be confirmed by DOH include Risalyn Traya Dado, 6, Aloran, MisOcc; Hernan Estacoja Caimor, 75, Aloran, MisOcc; Eudesia Dayon Regalado, 87, Aloran, MisOcc; Rito Regañon Malinis, 59, Aloran, MisOcc; Wilfreda Abelo Acle, 74, Pines, Oroquieta; Luchi Maisling, 38, San Vicente, Oroquieta and Florentino Gabule, 53, Pines, Oroquieta.
