Kalinga proposes P3B-'Ompong' rehab plan

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) had proposed a P3 billionrehabilitation and recovery plan to bring the province back to normal after the onslaught of typhoon ‘Ompong’ last month.

Assistant PDRRMO Richard Anniban disclosed the amount covers P2B for agriculture and P1B for infrastructure.

Kalinga’s agriculture sector, particularly rice, corn and vegetable farmers suffered heavy losses, while government infra facilities that include roads, bridges, flood-control, schools, irrigation canals and power line also incurred serious damages.

Anniban said the plan has been submitted to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-CAR.

Two weeks after ‘Ompong’, the Kalinga Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO) has restored power in 80 percent of its service area. Restoration is targeted to be completed within the month.

Of the more than 18,000 families affected, 10,833 were left with houses partially damaged while 94 totally lost their houses.

Provincial Agriculturist Domingo Bakilan noted crop damages would have been higher had rice plants already reached the flowering stage when the typhoon came.

Gov. Jocel C. Baac hopes the plan will provide roadmap for the faster rehabilitation and recovery of the province from the devastation left by ‘Ompong’.

Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes WATCH OUT. Barely few months after its rehabilitation, the brick sidewalk near People’s Park already starts to crumble which may cause injury to pedestrians.