LAGAWE, IFUGAO- – Ifugao provincial government’s second highest official will not settle for slow clearing operations at a typhoon-ravaged Banaue village.
Vice Governor Martin Habawel worked beyond his task as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as he doubled his efforts to help in revitalizing the clearing and recovery drive at this scenic village.
So someone in the officialdom needs to act with dispatch to lessen their difficulties brought about by the devastation of super typhoon Uwan late last year.
For those folks in Barangay Batad, the pain isn’t over yet.
To this date, it’s still a race against the clock.
All in all, there were casualties and heavy damages to properties and crops.
The Department of Agriculture reported that the typhoon affected the livelihood of significant number of farmers. The calamity wiped out huge metric tons of agricultural produce on several hectares of land. Among the commodities, rice contributed most to overall losses, the majority of which are in various mature stages. Rice grown in terrain here are more known as “tinawon” rice. Varieties include tinawon white, tinawon fancy,and tinawon diket. Record losses to high-value crops such as vegetables, root crops and bananas were also reported.
A number of houses were swept away by landslides. This resulted to displacement of families.
Apart from the horrible destruction at the Batad rice terraces and residential structures, the Batad elementary School also incurred major structural damages.
One can sense that there is great apprehension by Punong Barangay Romeo Heppog and school head Beverly Belingon.
Ifugao was placed under a state of calamity due to damages brought by heavy rains and floods during the typhoon.
“We have to move fast in the clearing operations,” Vice Governor Habawel said.
Habawel, appealed to local officials for “mobilization of volunteers, especially from the grassroots level.
Lack of heavy equipment tolls only undermines these operations.
The key is to harness volunteers from barangay councils, Sangguniang Kabataan and nongovernment organizations. The key is to respond promptly. Would you like to be able to share a few hours of your time for these needy folks? The stakes are so high for the village’s poverty stricken populace.
Earlier, executive assistant Davis Pulao took part in the clearing operations. Pulao, a former Lagawe councilor, asked the volunteers to inspire others in the community to appreciate and actively engage in humanitarian assistance projects.
“With the support of our volunteers, we are confident that this initiative of Vice Governor Habawel will be successful,” he told ZigZag Weekly.
Life of being a volunteer holds ever-changing possibilities and benefits. Damiano Agghao Jr., also of this office, is a staunch supporter of the program.
This sector’s commitment requires self-sacrifice. It realistically recognizes the role of key leaders in the private sector.
The strong influence of the Batad rice terraces in the tourism industry is unmistakable. It is a UNESCO heritage site. So tourism is important economically. A trip to the terraces is now hardly worth the effort because of these conditions. Villagers are not at all pleased with the slow recovery efforts. Developing strategies for monitoring and evaluation systems of the program to rebuild the barangay are very important pursuit of effective disaster preparedness measures and extensive tree-planting initiatives are just as essential.
This is the time to underscore these efforts, as the impacts of landslides and flooding have become more severe than ever. The Batad disaster is nothing new. As such, Vice Governor Habawel should be at the forefront for a legitimate legislated action towards addressing this problem. It should not come as a surprise since the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the logical destination for the passage of a measure aimed to ensure that government responses and intervention are sound and ready to face the future with all its uncertainties. For the people to face serious loss of crops and livelihood is unthinkable. **By Anthony A. Araos
