Ilocos Norte under state of calamity; infra, agri products damaged
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has placed Ilocos Norte under a state of calamity following heavy rains spawned by southwest monsoon and enhanced by tropical depression (TD) “Luis.”
In a special session on Saturday, Vice Governor Angelo Marcos Barba said that declaring a state of calamity in Ilocos Norte would beef up efforts province-wide to mitigate the effects of the prevailing southwest monsoon.
“We have enough calamity funds to provide assistance to the victims,” said Barba.
Governor Imee R. Marcos called on residents to take extra precuations.
“We need to help one another and we need to distribute relief goods to be followed by medical missions,” said Marcos.
Marcos visited the different towns in the province as part to monitor to the effects of the southwest monsoon.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall, flooding, and road blockages and closures have been reported throughout the province over the past week, with tertiary-level classes and government work being suspended on Friday.
As of Sunday, a total of million worth of infrastructure and agricultural products were damaged or destroyed by the weather disturbance, which also displaced around 14,000 residents
The Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) had released an advisory on Friday for tourists and locals to stay indoors and temporarily avoid visiting tourist spots.
The tourism office said that tourist spots like the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Malacañang of the North, the Marcos Presidential Center, and other government-owned facilities have been closed, until the weather improves.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) have already launched initial relief operations in the towns of Paoay, Pasuquin and Burgos.
Other members of the PDRRMC remain on standby, ready with rescue teams, equipment, and relief supplies stationed at the provincial capitol. (With a report from Erwin Beleo)