Northern Samar under state of calamity due to Ambo

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Northern Samar has been placed under a state of calamity in the aftermath of Typhoon Ambo.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Gov. Edwin Ongchuan and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the declaration, citing the number of displaced families and damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

In an initial damage assessment and needs analysis report, PDRRMC officer Rei Josiah Echano said 128,034 families or 521,203 individuals were displaced by the typhoon. 

Damage to agriculture was estimated at P132 million as of Tuesday. Damage to infrastructure was pegged at P127.2 million. 

Catubig and Las Navas towns were hardest hit by the typhoon.

Ongchuan asked the provincial agriculture office to request assistance from the Department of Agriculture to provide assistance to affected farmers.

Early this week, nine towns in Eastern Samar were placed under a state of calamity due to the damage from the typhoon.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan said damage to agriculture in Arteche, Maslog, Oras, Sulat, Taft, Jipapad, Can-avid, San Policarpo and Dolores was almost P1 billion.

Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P58 million.