State of calamity eyed in Benguet
ALMOST three weeks of monsoon rain has gripped the region with provinces grappling with damage.
Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso is mulling the declaration of a state of calamity in the province if only to access needed funds for road repair.
Four national roads were closed to traffic namely Kennon Road, the Benguet- Viscaya Road in barangay Beckel Lamut junction at La Trinidad, the Abra - Ilocos Norte Road in Nagaparan, Danglas Abra and sections of the AcopKapangan – Kibungan –Bakun road.
Pacalso said a consolidated report on
damage has yet to be sent to his office and surmised road havoc is the worst for the province.
“There are multiple road slips along Halsema Highway, as well as closures on small roads and punch through,” said Pacalso.
Partial reports have also be forwarded to the Office of Civil Defense and as of Monday, the Department of Agriculture reported a total of P44,011,512.74 in damage comprised of crops at P31,586,232.74, livestock at P640,280 and facilities with P1,100,000.
In Lacub town in Abra, there is an initial damage reported at P10,685,000.
Pacalso said there are many roads which are now functioning on a one way situation which motorists contend with, as the highway cannot be closed, despite the ongoing repairs by the Department on Public Works and Highways.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported initial damages totaling P1,247,433 with Abra having P10,350, Benguet at P1,114,583 and Mountain Province reporting P122,500 loss.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development also reported an initial 98 damaged homes (total and partial) broken down to the province of Benguet with a count of 22, Mt. Province with 38, Abra with 26 and Baguio City with 12.
Lacub has declared a state of calamity, calling for help and needing an access of emergency funds since August 14.
In the region, there are 49 land and rockslides reported in Abra, Benguet and Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga and Baguio City. Eleven road slips and eroded pathways confirmed in Baguio City, Apayao, Benguet and the Mountain Province and five flooding incidents reported in Baguio and the province of Abra.
In Mankayan, Benguet retrieval operations for lone missing monsoon victim, Luvina Julian Kidkid, is ongoing at Barangay Bedbed.
There are three reported injured by the OCD in Gambang, Bakun, Benguet, Green Valley, Baguio City and Cattubo, Atok, Benguet and five casualties reported in Badiwan, Marcos Hiway in Tuba town, Cattubo, Atok and Lower Dontogan in Baguio City.
The DSWD reported there are 99,097 affected families and number of persons in the region with Abra having 32,500, Benguet with 46,659 and the Mountain Province with 19,938.