Damage to agri, infra by TD Usman now at R4.2 B; death toll rises to 126
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday said that damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Tropical Depression “Usman” in the regions of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (CALABARZON), Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan (MIMAROPA), Bicol, and Eastern Visayas, have already reached more than R4.2 billion.
As of 6 a.m. Sunday, January 6, 2019, the NDRRMC said damage to agriculture have already reached R948,693,776.80 while damage to infrastructure have already reached R3,300,704,500 for a total of R4,249,398,276.80.
NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said due to the widespread destruction caused by Usman, the provinces of Oriental Mindoro (Calapan City and the municipalities of Baco, Naujan, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Bongacong) and Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines
Sur, and municipality of Bu-
lan, Sorsogon, were placed under a state of calamity.
Jalad also said that the number of families affected by TD Usman also increased over the weekend to 150,877 families or 675,777 persons in 952 barangays in Regions CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol and Eastern Visayas.
Of the families affected, 13,202 families or 57,945 persons are being served in 125 evacuation centers and 19,825 families or 94,875 outside of it.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already provided them with Family Food Packs (FFPs) and other relief goods.
Death toll
Of the 126 reported deaths and 75 injured in the Regions of MIMAROPA, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas, a total of eight fatalities and 42 injured were confirmed as a result of TD Usman, while the rest are still subject for verification/ validation.
A total of 26 persons also remain missing and are the subject of search and retrieval operations.
Jalad said that a total of 116 road sections and four bridges in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas were also reported affected by the weather disturbance. Of the number, 89 road sections and one bridge are already passable.
A total of 36 domestic flights were also cancelled due to bad weather since December 27, 2018.
Jalad also said that 104 areas in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas experienced power interruption since December 29, 2018, but power supply in 85 cities and municipalities was already restored.
A total of 215 areas were reported
flooded in Regions CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas of which, flooding in 135 areas had already subsided.
Jalad said a total of 9,554 houses were damaged (1,617 totally/7,937 partially) in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas.
As part of the preparedness measures, a total of 6,479 families or 22,723 individuals in 146 barangays in Eastern Visayas were preemptively evacuated.
A total of R55, 243,524.68 worth of assistance from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), LGUs, and NGOs has been provided to MIMAROPA, Bicol and Eastern Visayas.
Army mobilized
The Philippine Army (PA) has mobilized its forces to help and support the local government units (LGUs) and other concerned agencies in the conduct of disaster response and rescue operations in the affected areas.
Army Spokesman Col. Louie Villanueva,
said the 9th Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. Fernando T. Trinidad which has jurisdiction over Bicol region, took the initiative to deploy its forces in coordination with the local DRRMC and LGUs to perform humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Meanwhile, personnel of the 83rd Infantry (Achiever) Battalion along with other agencies participated in the road clearing at Barangay Sibaguan and Patitinan in the municipality of Sangay, Camarines Sur. The said areas were badly hit by massive landslides destroying roads and bridges and residential houses.
The soldiers of the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion assisted the residents trapped in the floods in Barangay Potot in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.
Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto has ordered all subordinate units to be prepared and render all possible assistance to affected residents as well as other concerned government agencies.
He also reminded the troops to be cautious while performing humanitarian operations as the Communist Terrorist Groups may take advantage of the situation and launch atrocities. (Francis T. Wakefield)