Kalinga has Zero Casualty, Typhoon Damages to Infra, Crops Reach P146M

The province has zero casualty buttyphoons Pedring and Quiel left P146,389,904 worth of damages on government infrastructure facilities and crops when it pummeled North Luzon over the past week.

The summary of typhoon report of the province showed that damages to roads and flood control structures reached P124,930,000 while damages to crops was posted at P21,459,904.

George Miing, engineer, reported that typhoon Pedring caused P29,930,000 worth of damages to roads and P95,000,000 worth to flood control facilities in various parts of the province.

Because of damaged flood control systems, rice lands near the Chico river particularly along Barangays Tuliao, Tanioc, Laya West, and Cabaruan were washed-out by flood waters.

Report from OIC provincial agriculturist Domingo Bakilan shows that damages to rice had been estimated at P6,089,600; corn at P11,691,900; and high value crops at P3,678,404.

When typhoon Pedring hit the province, a large portion of corn lands was about to be harvested while most of the palay wer on their reproductive stage, and vegetables were ready for harvesting.

The agri-based towns of Tabuk, Rizal, Pinukpuk, and Tanudan suffered most in damages to rice, corn and high value crops, including coffee, the report shows.

Because of continued rains brought by Pedring and Quiel, Tinglayan-Bontoc road is still closed due to landslides and a road cut was reported along Barangay Caluttit in Bontoc.

Teodore Owek, engineer of Kalinga Engineering District, said that while clearing operation is going on, they can not yet give the exact date as to when the road will be opened. Another road block had been caused by eroded boulders along Barangay Pantikian between Salegseg and Balbalasang road section in Balbalan municipality.

Smaller road problems in other parts of the province had been cleared, Owek said.

Meanwhile, typhoons Pedring and Quiel affected a total of 4,848 families in the province.

Reports from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) show 10 houses were totally flattened by Pedring’s and Quiel’s strong winds while 331 were partially destroyed.

At the height of the typhoons, families were evacuated in various evacuation centers by local disaster councils.

The municipality of Pasil suffered the heaviest from typhoon Pedring affecting 1,806 families and left 56 houses damaged, one totally destroyed.

With typhoon Quiel, Pinukpuk town reported 411 families affected, although there were two houses partially damaged previously from typhoon Pedring.

The PSWDO report shows that all eight towns of the province submitted respective reports on damages to houses and affected families, while municipal disaster councils provided initial relief to victims.

Rosemaritez Oyawon of the PSWDO, who is the designated Provincial Disaster coordinator, said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has yet to assess the extent of damages of every municipality as basis for its action in providing the appropriate assistance.

Oyawon assured, though, that relief assistance shall be provided by the PDRRMC as soon as possible.

(source: PIA)