Ilocos Norte under state of calamity due to Lawin

MANILA, Philippines - Ilocos Norte is under a state of calamity due to the damage from Super Typhoon Lawin.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity during a special session yesterday.

Donald Nicolas, vice chairman of the provincial board’s committee on natural calamities and public safety, said the declaration would allow local government units to utilize their calamity funds.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said damage due to the typhoon was estimated at P673.5 million as of 1 p.m. yesterday.  Damage to infrastructure was placed at P399 million and P274 million to agriculture. Eighty-seven houses were destroyed and 817 damaged, it added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said 24,669 families or 104,242 persons in 461 barangays were affected by the typhoon. Over 10,000 families or 40,515 persons remain in evacuation centers.

In Central Luzon, 31,841 families or 134,293 persons in 333 barangays were affected by Typhoons Karen and Lawin, according to the Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council.

A total of 13,829 families or 51,795 people – 980 of whom remain in evacuation centers – were residents of Bulacan.

Twenty-one barangays in Calumpit and one in San Miguel were submerged in floodwaters up to four feet. At least 58 barangays in Bataan and Pampanga also remain flooded. 

Damage to agriculture in Bulacan, which affected 6,459 hectares of rice fields and 4,859 farmers, was estimated at P68.6 million.  

In La Union, damage to agricultural crops was placed at P23 million.

A state of calamity was earlier declared in Bangar town. 

 “Consolidation of damage is ongoing...several millions worth of projects were destroyed based on our initial assessment,” said Bangar Mayor George Pinzon.  

Field assessment

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said they are conducting field assessment in preparation for the implementation of recovery and rehabilitation projects.

“We keep reporting figures...because we want to emphasize the urgency of the situation.  Many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing difficulties because of the typhoons,” DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in a statement.

Taguiwalo gave assurance that there are adequate funds and family food packs to augment the resources of local government units in affected areas.

The DSWD said it has P745.7 million in standby funds, 270,514 family food packs amounting to P101.1 million as well as non-food items, such as blankets and sleeping mats worth P246.7 million, at its central and field offices. – Ariel Paolo Tejada, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Jun Elias, Rainier Allan Ronda