Isabela under state of calamity due to Lawin

MANILA, Philippines – Isabela is under a state of calamity due to the damage from Typhoon Lawin, making it the seventh province in Northern Luzon to issue such declaration.

A resolution declaring a state of calamity in the province was passed during a special session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan yesterday.

“The declaration would enable the provincial government to utilize its calamity funds for relief operations and related assistance to typhoon-hit communities as well the immediate rehabilitation of vital infrastructure and facilities damaged by the typhoon,” Gov. Faustino Dy III said.

Two deaths were reported in the province while damage to agriculture and infrastructure was placed at P4.3 billion. At least 45,007 families or 217,068 individuals were affected.   

Cagayan, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur were earlier placed under a state of calamity due to the damage from Lawin.

A total of 150,415 families or 690,503 persons were affected by the typhoon in the entire Cagayan Valley region, according to Jaye Cabauatan, Office of Civil Defense officer-in-charge.

Damage to agriculture in Cagayan alone was estimated at P5.7 billion and P733.8 million  to infrastructure.

As this developed, Lilibeth Gaydowen, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines-Luzon spokesperson, said power has been restored in northern Isabela.

Gaydowen said the Tuguegarao-Cabagan 69-kiloVolt line went online yesterday. ?

Emergency employment

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment gave assurance that it would provide emergency employment to workers displaced by the typhoon.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said their regional offices are fast-tracking the profiling of affected workers.

“Our goal here is to provide our displaced workers immediate relief from the calamity by giving them income and at the same time enlist them for the rehabilitation, clearing and cleaning of affected communities,” Bello said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said around 117,000 workers were affected by Lawin.  

OFWs, families to get aid

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families who were affected by the typhoon will also get financial help, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced yesterday.

OWWA said it would provide P3,000 in cash assistance per family of active OWWA members while non-active members will get  P2,000.

The agency said it has so far allocated P30 million in financial aid to affected OFWs.

“We assure OFWs and family claimants that once they submit complete documentary requirements, OWWA will immediately release their money,” OWWA chief Hans Cacdac said.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, for her part, gave assurance that emergency response to typhoon victims was ”swift” and ”well-coordinated.” – With Mayen Jaymalin, Rainier Allan Ronda