By Patricia Bermudez
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Damage to agriculture and other infrastructures in the CALABARZON region has already reached close to Php 814 million following the onslaught of typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong, and the southwest monsoon or Habagat.
In its report, the Office of Civil Defense CALABARZON noted total damages in agriculture and infrastructure amounting to Php 814,625,627.
This includes damages to crops, livestock, and agricultural infrastructure amounting to Php 51,188,240.48 including rice, corn, cassava and other high-value crops.
Meanwhile, reported damages to local infrastructure were noted in the provinces of Cavite and Batangas amounting to P565,290.15 while national infrastructure in the provinces of Batangas and Rizal sustained damages worth Php 762,872,095.90.
More than 50,000 families displaced
Torrential rains affected 51,312 families with 205,661 individuals in 72 cities and municipalities. Of this, 12,849 families with 50,297 individuals sought temporary shelter in 349 evacuation centers. Meanwhile, a total of 17,421 families or 68,301 individuals chose to remain in their homes.
Affected LGUs have reported a total of 994 damaged houses in all five provinces, including 92 total damaged and 902 partially damaged homes.
Authorities also reported casualties from incidents related to the weather disturbance, including four fatalities in the provinces of Rizal and Cavite, and two injured individuals in the Municipality of San Pascual, Batangas.
Two individuals were also reportedly missing in the Municipalities of San Pascual, Batangas and Rodriguez, Rizal.
LGUs declare state of calamity
Several local government units have also declared a state of calamity, including the Province of Cavite. Localized declarations were also made in Cainta, Rodriguez, and San Mateo in Rizal Province as well as the municipality of Agoncillo, San Luis, Tanauan City, Tingloy, and Nasugbu in Batangas.
Residents who were displaced by the typhoons also received aid from national government agencies including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and OCD, as well as local government units.
According to the OCD, government aid for the affected families has already reached Php16,009,468.52.
