The Philippine weather bureau declared Agaton a tropical depression on 9th April. Then it intensified into a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 on 10th April as it moved across Eastern Visayas.
Days before Agaton’s forecast, it had been raining in Western Visayas as a prelude to Agaton’s coming.
Agaton’s wind force weakened, and the weather bureau declared it a tropical storm. However, it brought heavy rains, causing landslides and flooding in the affected areas.
The Holy Week celebration of Ajuy and the surrounding towns that the flooding affected became a time for survival, relief operations, and recovery.
Where in the world is Ajuy?
The following photos will orient us to the geographic location of the places in the Philippines mentioned in this post.
Western Visayas is a region of the Philippines composed of the Panay Island, which has five provinces, namely, Iloilo (our province), Capiz, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental, which is part of the big Negros island.
Ajuy is a coastal municipality in the province of Iloilo. The municipality has a land area of 175.57 square kilometers or 67.79 square miles which constitutes 3.51% of Iloilo’s total area.
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Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 53,462. The population density is computed at 305 inhabitants per square kilometer or 789 inhabitants per square mile.
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Floodwaters swept through the coastal town as runoff cascaded from nearby hills and mountains overflowed the levees, brooks, and rivers. When the high tide came in, the flood level in Ajuy’s coastal villages became deeper.
As soon as the flood levels subsided to shin level and the roads were passable, Ajuy Baptist Church, led by Christian Larry Kwe, Senior Pastor, his pastoral team, young people, and members, organised relief operations.
Learning of the catastrophic flood, Timaru-based Hopevale Trust responded and sent financial support to Ajuy Baptist Church’s relief operations.
Donations also poured in from local and overseas church members’ families, former pastors and their churches, friends, and other Baptist churches.
We thank everyone who responded and helped the people of Ajuy through their donations, voluntary service, thoughts, and prayers.
The video below documents the relief operations that the Ajuy Baptist Church facilitated. What a blessing to see God’s love in action!
PHOTO CREDIT: Ajuy Baptist Church through Pastor Christian Larry Kwe
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