State of calamity in Batanes due to Kiko

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — The island province of Batanes has been placed under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Kiko.

Gov. Marilou Cayco said the state of calamity was declared on Monday after 80 percent of residents were affected by the typhoon.

Damage to agriculture was initially estimated at P97.3 million; infrastructure, P358 million; houses, P28.5 million, and power facilities, P3 million.

The entire province was plunged into darkness as electric posts and communication lines were toppled by strong winds and fallen trees.

The Batanes Electric Cooperative said power restoration could take at least a month or two.

Reports said 27 persons were injured, and 1,915 families were affected by the typhoon, 56 of them still in evacuation centers.

The division office of the Department of Education suspended the opening of classes until Sept. 20 to repair damaged schools.

Cayco appealed for aid as she reiterated her request for construction materials, such as roofing sheets and wood, for their residents whose houses were destroyed.

”Hanggang ngayon ay mahirap pa din ipaliwanag and aking nararamdaman sa kalunos-lunos na nangyari sa aming probinsya,” the governor said in an interview over Teleradyo.

The provincial government had earlier requested the Office of Civil Defense to provide them 5,000 sacks of rice.

Jolina agri damage soars to P1.3 billion

Meanwhile, damage to agriculture due to Typhoon Jolina rose to P1.36 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center reported yesterday.

Based on its bulletin at noon yesterday, 49,803 farmers and fishermen were affected, with production loss at 51,177 metric tons (MT).

At least 30,609 hectares of agricultural areas in Central and Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa were affected.

Rice accounted for 47.15 percent of the damage or 25,532 hectares with volume loss of 40,875 MT valued at P639.1 million.

Damage to fisheries was valued at P421.6 million.

High-value crops had a 13.56 percent share of the damage, with 1,577 hectares affected. Volume loss was at 6,492 MT valued at P183.8 million.

The DA said initial agricultural damage due to Kiko was at P18.2 million as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

At least 880 farmers and 1,172 hectares of agricultural land were affected. – Emmanuel Tupas, Catherine Talavera