Help northern Luzon: Storm damage forces state of calamity in Ilocos Norte

By Freddie G. Lazaro

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Malacañang urged public participation in intensified relief operations for Northern Luzon, whipped by super typhoon “Odette” last week, as Ilocos Norte declared a state of calamity to address massive destruction of crops.

“Relief is underway, but we still continue to ask our kind-hearted brethren to provide relief assistance to our affected countrymen in Batanes,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

Lacierda said a C-130 plane packed with relief goods flew to Batanes Monday.

Onboard the plane was Batanes Rep. Dina Abad as well as officials and personnel of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

“NEA personnel are there to restore power in Batanes. Also, some telcos (telecommunication firms) have sent their personnel there to provide charging stations for their cell phones dahilngawalangkuryentedoon,” Lacierda said.

He said while initial assessment revealed that the typhoon destroyed crops in Northern Luzon, the government has yet to give a full assessment of the damages caused by the super typhoon.

In Laoag City, a special session by members of the provincial board was convened last week afternoon to pass a Resolution No. 0008-2013 placing the province of Ilocos Norte as under a state of calamity.

Provincial board member Albert Chua said the declaration was made to enable the Capitol to address the havoc wrought by Odette on agricultural fields and other public infrastructure, which cost at least P22.26 million.

Pedro Agcaoili, Jr., chief of administration of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), reported to Ilocos Norte Gov. and PDRRMC chair Imee Marcos that 47 barangays in 11 towns were adversely affected with Pagudpud town hit hardest.

Odette was the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, packing maximum winds of 205 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center when it made landfall in Batanes last week.