BULAN TOWN BEARS BRUNT OF TYPHOON DANTE FLOODING; HEROISM DISPLAYED BY MANY BULANENOS

( LGU-PIO ) Bulan, Sorsogon, May 4, 2009 –

 Once more, the spirit of Bayanihan and volunteerism was displayed by many Bulanenos at the height of the massive rains and flooding brought about by Typhoon Dante on May 1-2, 2009. The Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Mayor Helen De Castro and Municipal Administrator Luis De Castro, provided the impetus in inspiring various groups to volunteer in evacuating families , saving lives and providing for relief operations at the height of one of the worst floods ever to hit Bulan Town in decades.

 Based on partial reports from 26 out of 63 barangays, 2,065 families comprising 10,233 persons were displaced by the floods. 85 houses were partially destroyed, 63 were totally damaged. The Rural Health Unit in Barangay Obrero was partially damaged, together with several schools reporting to be underwater causing destruction to various school facilities and documents. Damage to agriculture, livestock and fisheries was estimated to be around 13 million pesos. Infrastructure was severely affected amounting to 38 million pesos, mostly farm-to-market roads.

 The estimates can go higher with the reports coming in. Fortunately, due to the timely warning system of the Bulan Municipal Government, through the MDCC, majority of the Bulanenos were able to prepare. No casualty was recorded. It can be noted that Bulan people are very much aware of these alarm systems due to the consistent disaster management program of the Local Government Unit.

 The volunteerism of the Bulan organizations were once more brought to the fore with the participation of several responders like the PNP Municipal Station and 509th PPMG, The Philippine Army Scout Rangers based in San Isidro, Kabalikat Civicom 426, USWAG Bulan, TOFY, a youth group, DepED, and the various BDCCs of almost all barangays in Bulan. During the the height of the floods, barangay officials were busy, together with civic-hearted residents in evacuating and helping their community-members. Various areas of the National Highway all the way from Sta. Teresita to Zone 8 were submerged under water preventing all forms of land transportation. The floods started around 3 o’clock in the morning of May 2 and did not easily recede until around 5o’clock in the afternoon. Some areas in Bulan experienced up to 10 feet of floodwater.

 ( Bulan PIO ) PIO-LGU-Bulan 1