The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday that damage to infrastructure and agriculture in Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative Region from typhoon “Lawin” has reached more than P2 billion.
Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense administrator, said that based on their assessment, infrastructure sustained P1,402,245,000 in damages while agriculture had P645,515,777.90 for a total of P2,047,760,777.90.
Jalad said 31,751 families or 158,736 persons were pre-emptively evacuated in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 5, and CAR.
The NDRRMC official said 48,521 families or 228,695 persons were served inside and outside evacuation centers.
Almost 14,000 houses were totally and partially damaged in Regions 1, 2, 3, and CAR.
Jalad said 119 barangays were flooded in Pangasinan, Bataan, and Pampanga. He expects the floods to subside as the weather improves.
Eighty-four road sections and 19 bridges were reported impassable due to floods and landslides in Regions 1, 2, 3, and CAR.
Rice, corn, and vegetables sustained the highest losses from Lawin in Northern Luzon, the Department of Agriculture said.
DA Secretary Manny Piñol flew to Kalinga via military chopper to assess damages brought by Lawin in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).
During his visit, Piñol met Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac to discuss plans of action to help farmers and fishers cope with the damages and immediately recover their livelihoods. (Francis T. Wakefield and Ellalyn B. de Vera)
