Benguet under state of calamity

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The provincial board has declared the whole province under a state of calamity due to massive damage caused by the series of typhoons to lives, crops, properties and public infrastructure in the province.

The declaration would enable the provincial government to tap the calamity fund
for the rehabilitation program.

The provincial board noted the province was devastated by typhoons Cosme, Frank, Igme, Karen, and Lawin.

With the passage of the resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity, the provincial government can now use its calamity funds for rehabilitation and relief purposes.

However, the available funds to be released from the calamity fund of the province amount to only P10 million.

Typhoon Karen alone inflicted damage of P66.3 million in different parts of the province.

Provincial officials described the magnitude of disaster caused by typhoon Karen as widespread, causing loss of lives and livestock and triggering landslides. This caused heavy damage to roads, infrastructure facilities, and crops.

In Benguet, six persons died in landslides spawned by typhoon Karen’s rains and wind. Three of the casualties were Reggie Somera, Mark Lester Somera, and Alvin Somera, who died when their house was crushed by a landslide in Barangay Ucab, Itogon town. The other casualties were Arnold Atiw of Nabalicong, Natubleng, Buguias town, and Ernesto Piduca and Alberto Caballero of Camp 3, Tuba town.

Injured were Ben Donglal of Palina, Kibungan, and Roy Lingbanan of Catlubong, Buguias.Dexter See