'Urduja' damage
P123M in Cebu roads, crops destroyed
CEBU - More than P123 million worth of infrastructure and agricultural products were destroyed in some towns and a city in northern Cebu during the onslaught of tropical storm Urduja.
This was based on the initial assessment by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
In an interview yesterday, PDRRMO head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said that the cost of the damage may increase as their assessment on Urduja’s effects is still ongoing.
Of the P123 million, Tribunalo said that P118 million represents damaged roads in Barangays Ilihan and Kal-anan in Tabogon; and Barangays Panugnawan and Tinubdan in Medellin.
In agriculture, damage to banana plantations was reported in Catmon, Tudela, Poro, Danao City and Compostela.
In San Remigio, initial assessment revealed that the storm damaged P5 million in agriculture.
Following the declaration of the state of calamity in the affected local government units (LGU), Tribunalo said they will use the Capitol’s quick response fund to assist these communities.
The Provincial Government and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 already sent relief packs to the affected families.
The Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) is also preparing relief goods for those affected by Urduja.
Myra Tangsinco, PSWDO social welfare sssistant, told SunStar Cebu that they have so far provided relief packs to the evacuees in Sogod.
Tansingco said they are waiting for the reports from other LGUs so they can release assistance.
“We are waiting for their final report because we can’t extend assistance if the report was only made verbally. We need proof that these are the areas affected by the storm,” she said.
The relief goods prepared by PSWDO contains five kilos of rice, four cans of sardines and three pieces of noodles per family.
The DSWD 7 also sent family food packs worth P3.7 million to Daanbantayan, Medellin, Madridejos, Pilar and Toledo City. JKV with Rolyn May Jumaoas, USJ-R Intern