‘Habagat’ wreaks havoc in Cordillera

Classes in all levels here and the nearby provinces of Benguet remained suspended on Friday as continuous monsoon rains battered the extremely water- logged mountain region.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan ordered the suspension of classes in all levels by early Friday morning, while all schools in nearby Itogon and Tublay in Benguet were also shut down to avoid the dire effects of the downpour. Only pre- school to high school classes were suspended in Kibungan and Atok, also in Benguet.

In Abra province, classes in all levels were suspended on Thursday.

Classes from pre- school to elementary schools in Bokod, Buguias, Tuba, capital town of La Trinidad and Kapangan, all in Benguet were suspended.

With the at least three weeks of incessant monsoon rains in the highlands, Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso is considering to declare a state of calamity in the province to access needed funds for repair of roads damaged by landslides and rockslides.

Four national roads were closed to traffic – Kennon Road, the Benguet– Viscaya Road in Barangay Beckel Lamut junction in La Trinidad, the Abra–Ilocos Norte Road in Nagaparan, Danglas Abra and sections of Acop–Kapangan– Kibungan–Bakun road.

Multiple road slips were also reported along Halsema Highway, the main artery going to the vegetables farms in northern Benguet.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that initial damage was recorded at over P44 million, comprised of crops at P31.5 million; livestock at P640,280 and facilities at P1.1 million.

In Lacub, Abra, which has been under a state of calamity since August 14, initial damage reported was at P10.6 million.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also reported initial damage of about P1.2 million with Abra at P10,350; Benguet at P1.1 million and Mountain Province with P122,500 losses.

The OCD reported 49 landslides and rockslides in Abra, Benguet and Ifugao; Mountain Province; Kalinga and Baguio City. Eleven road slips and eroded pathways were confirmed in Baguio City, Apayao, Benguet and Mountain Province. There were five flooding incidents in Baguio and Abra.

In Mankayan, Benguet retrieval operations for missing monsoon victim, Luvina Julian Kidkid, is ongoing in Barangay Bedbed.

Three were reported injured in Gambang, Bakun, Benguet, Green Valley, Baguio City and Cattubo, Atok, Benguet and five casualties in Badiwan, Marcos Hi- way in Tuba town, Cattubo, Atok and Lower Dontogan in Baguio City.