State of calamity declared in Cagayan, La Union, Vigan

By Freddie Lazaro and Erwin Beleo

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Cagayan Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board recently placed the province under a state of calamity due to the widespread destruction caused by typhoon Ompong last week.

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Mayor Juan Carlo Medina likewise announced that the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on Sept. 18, 2018 Resolution No.  83, s. 2018 declaring the city under state of calamity.

La Union was also been placed under a state of calamity on September 18, 2018 through Resolution No. 568-2018 approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in tits 116th regular session.

Cagayan

In a special session on September 16, 2018, the provincial board members of Cagayan approved Resolution No. 2018-9-671 declaring a state of calamity in the province.

Governor Manuel Mamba said that the province will tap its calamity fund to extend relief and assistance to Cagayanos displaced by the typhoon.

Cagayan Provincial Board Member Vilmer Viloria said that as of yesterday, the estimated damage to absorbed by the agriculture sector is around P8 billion while damage to infrastructure is still being validated.

La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III signed the resolution placing the province under a state of calamity.

Damage to crops and other agricultural products in La Union was pegged at P933,974, 322; livestock at P941,000 and infrastructure at P982, 998,741.66.

29, 000 families were also displaced by the typhoon.

“With the above facts and figures, careful assessment, review and endorsement of Governor Ortega, it is now imperative that the province be declared under a state of calamity,” read part of the resolution.

City Councilor Third Ranches said the city government, aside from evaluating and assessing damage to on crops and infrastructure, was also conducting assessment on destruction of ancestral houses and buildings.

Damage to property, infrastructure and agriculture in Vigan City was pegged at P113,197, 000.