‘Ineng’ damage in 2 areas hits 2.3 billion
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — The damage caused by typhoon “Ineng” has reached 2.3 billion in Ilocos Norte ( 1.8 billion) and the Cordillera Administrative Region ( 591 million), as Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas called for the immediate reconstruction of the 70-meter Bailey Bridge in Santa, Ilocos Sur, whose destruction has hampered relief efforts for isolated communities.
Roxas, after visiting Ilocos Sur on Wednesday, suggested that a barge be used to convey residents isolated by the washing out of the bridge as an immediate and temporary solution.
However, he said the collapsed bridge along the Manila North Road in Barangay Calungbuyan, needs to be replaced soon.
In Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC) showed that the reported damage in infrastructure has ballooned to 1.719,588,373 and that the fisheries and agriculture sector absorbed an 89,907,579 loss.
“Hundreds of millions are needed to restore our damaged agriculture and infrastructures caused by Typhoon Ineng in the province,” Governor Imee R. Marcos told the Manila Bulletin last Wednesday as she played host to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
She said at least 85 hectares of farms have been totally destroyed with the rice sector sustaining the biggest damage at 71 million; followed by high-value crops at 6.4 million; corn at 4.55 million; livestock at P3 million; and fisheries at 4.8 million.
Marcos said several intervention measures are now being mapped out by the provincial government for shortterm and long-term recovery needs in agriculture.
In Baguio City, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Cordillera reported that the agriculture sector incurred a damage of 103,313,298 on high-value crops and rice; 151,049,395 in roads; and 20,087,464 in livestock.
Mountain Province reported the biggest losses at 26,044,660.82; followed by Benguet at 20,800,324.33; then Apayao, 17,561,921.00; Abra, 9,321,786; Kalinga, 8,810,402: and Ifugao, 686,738.76.
Meanwhile the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units (LGUs) has provided relief assistance totaling 12 million to Ineng victims in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and CAR.
The share of the DSWD as of August 26, is 11,499,195 while the LGUs contributed 1,244,193.
As of Thursday, a total of 65,403 families or 290,922 persons have been affected by Ineng, where five families or 20 persons are still inside two evacuation centers in Benguet.
The DSWD field offices in the affected regions continue to coordinate with the LGUs for further assistance.
Meanwhile, fair weather will continue in the rest of the country until the weekend, particularly in Inengaffected areas in Luzon. (With reports from Zaldy C. Comanda and Ellalyn B. de Vera)