'Nona' damage exceeds P6 billion

MANILA, Philippines - The amount of agriculture and infrastructure damage caused by Typhoon Nona has ballooned to more than P6 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and regional civil defense reports. 

Mimaropa was the region worst hit by the typhoon, sustaining P2.28 billion in damage, data from the Office of Civil Defense Region IV-B showed. 

Damaged infrastructure in the region totaled P588.53 million while the amount of agriculture damage hit P1.69 billion.

The amount did not include the cost of damaged lifelines like communication and water facilities and power lines in the region, which totaled P292.98 million and damaged private properties which hit P3.16 million.

Eastern Visayas, meanwhile, sustained infrastructure and agriculture damage worth P1.75 billion, according to the NDRRMC.

Central Luzon recorded P1.19 billion worth of damage while the Bicol region sustained P918.79 million. The cost of agriculture and infrastructure damage in Cagayan Valley reached P195.77 million while that of Calabarzon hit P30.47 million.

A total of 246,780 houses were damaged in five regions. The death toll from the typhoon has reached 42 while the number of injured persons reached 24. Four people remain missing as of Wednesday.